Pamela McClintock of Variety:
Led by 20th Century Fox sleeper hit “Marley & Me,” the crowded Christmas box office prospered in a fitting finale to a year that has been full of surprises.
“Marley,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, grossed an estimated $51.7 million from 3,480 screens for the four-day holiday weekend after breaking the record for best Christmas Day opener. Three day total (Friday-Saturday) was an estimated $37 million, according to Rentrak.
Those are some of the best numbers ever for a Christmas release, outside of tentpoles such as the “Lord of the Rings.”
But “Marley” wasn’t the only title fetching golden coin at the B.O.
Paramount’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and Disney’s Adam Sandler comedy “Bedtime Stories” found themselves in a relatively close race.
“Benjamin Button,” toplining Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, exceeded expectations in grossing an estimated $39 million from 2,988 screens to come in No. 2 for the four days.
For the three days, “Button” was beat by “Bedtime Stories,” which grossed an estimated $28.1 million to “Button’s” $27.2 million. “Bedtime’s” four day total was an estimated $38.6 million.
And in a victory for United Artists and MGM, Bryan Singer’s Tom Cruise starrer “Valkyrie” grossed an estimated $30 million from 2,711 screens for the four days, and $21.5 million for the three days. Pic placed No. 4.
The only soft debut of the sesh was Lionsgate’s “The Spirit,” which grossed an estimated $10.4 million from 2,509 runs for the four days and $6.5 million for the three. Film came in No. 9.
Film business touted the strength and depth of the box office, particularly the record turnout on Christmas Day as five wide releases entered the marketplace. That’s on top of holdover holiday releases “Yes Man,” from Warner Bros., and Sony’s Will Smith drama “Seven Pounds,” both of which opened Dec. 19.
“Yes Man” placed No. 5 for the long holiday weekend, grossing an estimated $22.4 million for the four days, bringing the comedy’s cume of $49.6 million [I saw "Yes Man" over the weekend...And didn't think it was all that great-T].
Coming in No. 6, “Seven Pounds” grossed an estimated $13.4 million for the four days for a total of $39 million. Pic has fallen short of the record success Smith has enjoyed at the box office.
On the specialty side, DreamWorks/Paramount Vantage’s “Revolutionary Road” boasted a boffo per screen average of $62,000 as it opened Friday in three theaters, grossing an estimated $192,000. Film reunites Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio for the first time since “Titanic.”
There was plenty of action on the specialty side, with Miramax’s “Doubt” and Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire” continuing to build strength.
“Doubt” came in No. 10 for the three day weekend as it expanded to 1,267 screens in its third weekend, grossing an estimated $7 million. Cume is $8.9 million.
“Slumdog” grew its cume to an impressive $19.7 million in its seventh sesh, grossing an estimated $5.8 million over the four-day holiday weekend.
Warner’s “Gran Torino” also continued to prosper, grossing an estimated $3.2 million from 84 locations for a cume of $4.3 million in its third weekend. Per screen average for the three days was an impressive $29,048, the best of the sesh after “Revolutionary Road.”...
Steve Korn of EW:
Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, four-legged pal take No. 1 over ''Button,'' ''Bedtime Stories,'' ''Valkyrie''
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