Film News: ‘The Vow’ Wins Box Office With Big Opening February Weekend

CHICAGO – In a time of year that doesn’t tend to see big box office weekends, four new films combined to total over $130 million at the box office this past weekend. Romance trumped drama, fantasy/adventure, and a 3D re-release as “The Vow” was the top film of the weekend.

The large totals at the box office were capped with the estimated $41.7 million total for “The Vow,” starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. The romance film battled all weekend with Denzel Washington’s new film “Safe House,” which came in with an estimated $39.3 million. Rounding out the top four were the other two new releases “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” and “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (in 3D).” “Journey 2” made an estimated $27.5 million and “Star Wars” totaled $23 million.

In other box office news, last week’s winner, “Chronicle,” made an estimated $12.3 million, dropping 44% from the previous weekend. Meanwhile, “The Descendants” stayed in the top ten again, keeping its award season run going strong with three straight appearances in the top ten since it was nominated for Best Picture.

Can “The Vow” win two weekends in a row next weekend, or will it be trumped by next weekend’s new releases of “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” or “This Means War”? We will have to wait until next weekend to find out.

1. The Vow [11]– $41.7 million – new
2. Safe House [12]– $39.3 million – new
3. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island [13]– $27.5 million – new
4. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (in 3D) [14]– $23 million – new
5. Chronicle [15]– $12.3 million – down 44% — $40.2 million total
6. The Woman in Black [16]– $10.3 million – down 51% — $35.5 million total
7. The Grey [17]– $5.1 million – down 45% — $42.8 million total
8. Big Miracle [18]– $3.9 million – down 50% — $13.2 million total
9. The Descendants [19]– $3.5 million – down 23% — $70.7 million total
10. Underworld Awakening [20]– $2.5 million – down 55% — $58.9 million total

[21]	By TIM MARTENS [22] Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com [21]