Weekend of January 30 – February 1, 2008

Pierre Morel’s action thriller “Taken” easily defeated its competition at the North American box office with $24.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Starring Liam Neeson, the film follows a former government operative who stops at nothing to find his daughter and punish those responsible for her kidnapping.

Last week’s box office champ “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” slipped to second place, earning another $14 million for a domestic total of $83.3 million after three weeks in release.

Meanwhile, new entry “The Uninvited” debuted at No. 3 with a weekend gross of $10.5 million. Charles and Thomas horror remake follows two sisters trying to convince their dad that his new girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) is not who she pretends to be.

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Weekend of January 23 – 25, 2008

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with $21.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Steve Carr’s family comedy starring Kevin James as a mall security guard successfully fought off its competition, lifting its domestic gross to an impressive $64 million after only two weeks in release.

Following closely in second place was new entry “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” which took home $20.7 million but failed to beat the $26.8 million opening weekend gross of its predecessor, “Underworld: Evolution.”

Things didn’t go so well for “Inkheart,” this weekend’s second wide release. The Iain Softley-directed adaptation of Cornelia Funke’s novel finished only in seventh place with $7.7 million. In the film, Brendan Fraser plays a man with the ability to bring characters out of books by reading them aloud.

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Patrick Tatopoulos' "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" raced to the top of the North American box office Friday with an estimated $7.9 million in ticket sales.The prequel to 2003's "Underworld" explores the origins of the feud between the Death Dealer and the Lycans.

Last week's box office champion "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" slipped to No. 2, taking home $5.6 million for a total of $48.9 million after one week in release. Starring Kevin James, the family comedy follows a security guard trying to protect his mall from a bunch of crooks.

At No. 3, Clint Eastwood's drama "Gran Torino" collected $4.3 million, lifting its domestic gross to $85.8 million. Following in fourth place was Patrick Lussier's remake "My Bloody Valentine 3-D," which reached a total haul of $30.8 million after a daily gross of $3.1 million.

Meanwhile, Danny Boyle's Oscar-nominated drama "Slumdog Millionaire" climbed to No. 5, pulling $2.7 million for a cume of $48.1 million.

As for "Inkheart," this weekend's second wide release, it finished only in eighth place with a disappointing $2 million. Based on the novel by Cornelia Funke, the film follows a man with the ability to bring characters from a book to life.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" continued its box office dominance Monday with $7.2 million in ticket sales. Steve Carr's comedy starring Kevin James lifted its total gross to $39 million.

Climbing to No. 2 with $5.4 million was Thor Freudenthal's "Hotel for Dogs," which brought its cumulative gross to $22.5 million. In the family film, Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin star as two siblings rescuing a bunch of stray dogs.

Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood's drama "Gran Torino" slipped to third place, earning $4.2 million for a total haul of $77.2 million. Following at No. 4 was "Notorious," which reached a domestic total of $24 million after Monday's earnings of $3.4 million.

Lionsgate's horror remake "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" took home another $2.9 million for a total of $24.2 million at No. 5, while Gary Winick's comedy "Bride Wars" finished in sixth place with a daily gross of $2.3 million and a cume of $39.8 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

Weekend of January 16 – 18, 2009

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” secured the top spot at the North American box office this weekend with $33.8 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Sony’s Steve Carr-directed family comedy stars Kevin James as a devoted security guard struggling to protect his mall against a bunch of ruthless crooks. The film just fell short of surpassing the $34.2 million opening weekend gross of James’ previous big-screen comedy, “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.”

Still going strong at No. 2 was Clint Eastwood’s drama “Gran Torino,” which earned $22.2 million for a total gross of $73.2 million after six weeks in release. Eastwood stars as a racist Korean War vet who forms an unlikely bond with a Hmong teenager living next door.

Debuting in third place with $21.9 million was Patrick Lussier’s remake “My Bloody Valentine 3-D.” The film focuses on what happens in the mining town of Harmony 10 years after a bloody Valentine’s Day massacre.

Meanwhile, Fox Searchlight’s biopic “Notorious” finished fourth with an impressive $21.5 million at 1,638 locations. The film chronicles the short life and fame of East Coast rapper Biggie Smalls, also known as Notorious B.I.G.

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Kevin James' new comedy "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" topped the North American box office Friday with an estimated $9.7 million in ticket sales. In the Steve Carr-directed film, James plays a security guard trying to protect his mall from a group of crooks.

Debuting at No. 2 with a surprising $8.2 million was "Notorious," which opened at only 1,637 locations this weekend. New entry "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" followed in third place, earning $8.2 million also. "Notorious" emerged as the movie with the higher theater average.

Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" slipped to No. 4, collecting $6.2 million and reaching $57.2 million. The movie follows a racist Korean War veteran who forms an unusual bond with a Hmong teenager.

At No. 5, Thor Freudenthal's family adventure "Hotel for Dogs" debuted with $4.3 million. Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin star as two siblings rescuing stray dogs and hiding them in an abandoned hotel.

Other Friday box office results: "Defiance" finished eighth with a daily gross of $2.7 million; "Last Chance Harvey" pulled in $1.2 million at No. 12; and "Revolutionary Road" took home $480,000 at No. 18.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)