It sure sounds strange, but it's true.

February '09 was indeed the highest grossing month ever in North America, according to Brandon Gray at Box Office Mojo.

Gray says the total gross for the month came in at about $770 million, which is indeed quite impressive, especially considering the weak quality of new releases.

One of the top players was Pierre Morel's entertaining thriller "Taken," which opened at the end of January but has been delivering strong performances at the box office over the past weeks. The film's current total stands at $118 million.

Other films contributing to the month's success were "He's Just Not That Into You," "Madea Goes to Jail" and "Coraline."

Of course, some major January releases continued to earn big in February, including "Gran Torino" and "Paul Blart: Mall Cop."

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Weekend of March 6 – 8, 2009

Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen” stormed the North American box office this weekend with $55.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The big-screen adaptation of the celebrated graphic novel scored the widest release ever for an R-rated film, opening at 3,611 locations. The film also collected $4.5 million from midnight screenings early Friday.

Still, “Watchmen” failed to beat Snyder’s last film “300,” which debuted at 3,280 locations two years ago and delivered a $70.8 million opening weekend gross.

At No. 2, Tyler Perry’s “Madea Goes to Jail” collected another $8.8 million, reaching a domestic total of $76.5 million after three weeks in release. The film already passed the $63.2 million total gross of its predecessor, “Madea’s Family Reunion.”

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Weekend of February 13 – 15, 2009

“Friday the 13th” slashed its competition at the top of the North American box office with a whopping $42.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Marcus Nispel’s remake of the 1980 horror flick follows Jason Voorhees as he brutally murders everyone daring to enter his territory at Camp Crystal Lake. The film was produced on a $19 million budget.

Things didn’t look that great for this weekend’s two other wide releases. P.J. Hogan’s “Confessions of a Shopaholic” debuted only at No. 4, pulling in $15.4 million. Based on the books by Sophie Kinsella, the film follows Isla Fisher as a journalist struggling to get control of her debt.

Meanwhile, Tom Tykwer’s thriller “The International” finished in seventh place, collecting only $10 million. Starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, the movie focuses on an Interpol agent and a NY district attorney trying to bring down a corrupt bank.

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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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Pierre Morel's thriller "Taken" stormed the North American box office Friday with an estimated $9.3 million in ticket sales.

In the film written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, Liam Neeson plays a former government opertive tracking down those responsible for his daughter's kidnapping.

Debuting at No. 2 with $4.3 million was Charles and Thomas Guard's horror flick "The Uninvited," about two sisters who are convinced their dad's new fiancee is not the person she pretends to be.

Following in third place was Kevin James' comedy "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," which earned $4.1 million for a $73.5 million total. Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" took home another $2.6 million and lifted its domestic gross to $104.5 million.

At No. 5, "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" pulled $2.5 million, reaching a total haul of $28.1 million after one week in release. "New in Town," this week's third wide release, only made it to No. 6 with $2.4 million.

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

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)

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)