The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films and then check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.
Clint Eastwood’s new drama Gran Torino took first place at the box office with an estimated $29 million, a new record for the 78-year-old actor, topping the $18 million his Space Cowboys made in 2000. The movie increased its theater count from 84 theaters to 2,808 this weekend and averaged an impressive $10,337 per location. Since opening on December 12 in New York and Los Angeles, the film has earned $40.1 million so far. The Warner Bros. release, directed by, produced by and starring Eastwood, cost about $33 million to make.
Two other newcomers also opened with more than $20 million. 20th Century Fox’s new comedy Bride Wars, starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, opened to $21.5 million from 3,226 theaters, while Rogue Pictures’ new supernatural thriller The Unborn, directed by David Goyer and starring Odette Yustman, was close behind in third with $21.1 million from 2,357 theaters.
Fox’s Marley & Me dropped down the fourth but added another $11.4 million in its third weekend to bring its total to $123.7 million.
Paramount Pictures’ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button rounded out the top five with $9.5 million. After three weeks, the David Fincher fantasy drama starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett has reached $94.3 million. It carried a budget of about $150 million.
Sixth place belonged to Disney’s Bedtime Stories, which earned $8.6 million for a total of $97.2 million after three weeks. Bryan Singer and Tom Cruise’s Valkyrie added $6.7 million in its third weekend for a total of $71.5 million. Jim Carrey’s Yes Man made $6.2 million in its fourth weekend for a sum of $89.4 million.
TriStar Pictures’ Not Easily Broken also opened in 724 theaters and earned $5.6 million.
Click here for the full box office results of the top 12 films.
