Pup Power

As expected Marley & Me was once again top dog at the box office this weekend...



Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Twentieth Century Fox’s “Marley & Me” remained best in show at the weekend box office, fetching a winning gross of $24 million from 3,505 runs for a cume of $107 million in only 11 days.

The first weekend of 2009 capped an unusually robust Christmas sesh at the box office. Four of the five films opening on Dec. 25 did boffo business over the two-week frame.

Disney’s Adam Sandler family comedy “Bedtime Stories” placed No. 2 for the weekend in grossing an estimated $20.3 million from 3,684 locations for a cume of $85.6 million.

Brad Pitt-Cate Blanchett starrer “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” from Paramount and directed by David Fincher, continued to exceed expectations. Film grossed an estimated $18.4 million from 2,988 locations for a cume of $79.2 million.

United Artists/MGM’s Tom Cruise Nazi drama “Valkyrie” thrilled as well. Directed by Bryan Singer in his first feature outing since “Superman Returns,” “Valkyrie” grossed an estimated $14.3 million for a cume of $60.7 million.

All four titles saw minimal declines from the previous weekend. “Marley” fell 34%, “Bedtime,” 26%, “Button,” 31%, and “Valkyrie,” 33%.

Lionsgate wasn’t so lucky with its Christmas Day release, Frank Miller’s “ The Spirit.” Pic grossed $3.3 million from 2,509 playdates for an 11 day cume of $17.75. It came in No. 13 for the weekend.

Warner Bros.’ Jim Carrey laffer “Yes Man” came in No. 5 for the weekend, declining only 17%. Comedy, released Dec. 19, grossed $13.9 million from 3,434 for a cume of $79.4 million.

Holding at No. 6 was Sony’s Will Smith drama “Seven Pounds,” which grossed $$10 million from 2,758 runs for a cume of $60 million

Universal toon “The Tale of Despereaux” came in No. 7, grossing $7 million from 3,091theaters for a cume of $43.7 million.

Miramax specialty pic “Doubt,” toplining Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, made a strong showing in coming in No. 8, grossing an estimated $5 million from 1,287 runs for a cume of $18.7 million.

Fox’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” came in No. 9, grossing an estimated $$4.9 million from 2,337 for a cume of $74.3 million.

Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire” grossed an estimated $4.8 million from 612 runs for a cume of $28.8 million..

Nicole Sperling of EW:

With no new wide releases, weekend box office mirrors last week's; ''Bedtime,'' ''Button'' stay strong...