The Box Office Top Five
#1 "Friday the 13th" ($45.2 million)
#2 "He's Just Not That Into You" ($23.4 million)
#3 "Taken" ($22.2 million)
#4 "Coraline" ($19.1 million)
#5 "Confessions of a Shopaholic" ($17.3 million)
Valentine's Day wasn't the only thing causing heart palpitations this holiday weekend, as our favorite hockey-mask-wearing killer returned in Warner Bros.' "Friday the 13th" remake. The slasher film brought in an opening haul of $45.2 million, as eager audiences flocked to see Jason hack and slash his way through more nubile teenagers. "Friday" also sliced up a few box office records: It's the biggest opener for any slasher flick and the highest-grossing horror remake to date.
And while there was still room for romantic comedy on Valentine's Day weekend, it seems audiences preferred their romance with a hint of bitterness, as newcomer "Confessions of a Shopaholic" opened at #5 with only $17.3 million, and holdover "He's Just Not That Into You" stuck it out at #2 with $23.4 million. It looks like the complaints of critics proved true, and audiences weren't buying romance when wrapped in conspicuous consumption.
"Taken" dropped to #3 in its third week of release, though Liam Neeson nearly punched "Into You" right out of its spot with $22.2 million, bringing its take to $80.9 million so far. Neeson also held out against weekend newcomer Clive Owen, whose action flick "The International" couldn't crack the top five, earning a disappointing $10 million.
Though she dropped to #4, "Coraline" didn't see much of a drop in attendance — in fact, she brought in $19 million, more than she earned in her debut last weekend.
With the top five tallied, the heart palpitations weren't just for Jason's victims on- and off-screen, but for movie studio executives. Their hearts are no doubt pounding over what has proved to be not only one of busiest Presidents' Day weekends on record, but the biggest February weekend of all time. It would seem that if you want to make big money from movie lovers on Valentine's Day, offer them a big heart-shaped box of dark and gruesome fare.
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