The US box office can be an incredibly fickle beast that tough to predict. Many were expecting that with four major films opening against one another, they might harm each others chances. Instead all of them did well, marking only the second time in history four films have opened north of $20 million on the same weekend.
It was The Vow that really overperformed, doubling some predictions to wind up with a stellar $41 million. Many have suggested a lack of straightforward romances in the last few months and the fact it’s almost Valentine’s Day conspired to ensure The Vow got an opening that outpaced the likes of Dear John and The Notebook.
The film many had expected to lead the box office chart, Safe House, settled for second spot with $39.3 million, which was still well ahead of what many thought it might end up with. Indeed it’s more than Ryan Reynolds’ last movie, The Change Up, made in its entire North American run, and marks Denzel Washington’s second biggest opener ever behind American gangster.
Third on the chart with $27.7 million was Journey 2, which outpaced its predecessor’s $21 million opening, and nearly doubled what many had thought it would make in its first three days. The final new entry in the $20 million plus club was Star War: The Phantom Menace 3D, which took $23 million. It’s a solid start, especially considering many see it as the weakest Star Wars movie, but it’s well behind what the re-release of The Lion King made last autumn. We’ll have to see whether George Lucas thinks it’s enough to justify converting the other Star Wars flicks.
Take a look below for the US box office top 10 for the weekend of February 10th-12th.
| Title | Weekend Gross (millions) | Total Gross to date (millions) |
| The Vow | $41.7 | $41.7 |
| Safe House | $39.3 | $39.3 |
| Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | $27.5 | $27.5 |
| Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D | $23.0 | $23.0 |
| Chronicle | $12.3 | $40.1 |
| The Woman In Black | $10.3 | $35.4 |
| The Grey | $5.0 | $42.8 |
| Big Miracle | $3.9 | $13.2 |
| The Descendants | $3.5 | $70.7 |
| Underworld Awakening | $2.5 | $58.9 |
Despite competition from the Super Bowl, Chronicle has got off to a good start at the box office, with a $22 million opening weekend. It’s certainly not bad for a movie that only cost $12 million to make, and seems to have been helped by a strong buzz and good word of mouth.
While many thought The Grey would top the US box office, not that many believed the R-rated thriller would hit $20 million in its first three days, but with the drawing power of Liam Neeson and a fairly clear premise, it’s done just that.
Despite a critical drubbing and worries about franchise fatigue, Underworld Awakening has fought through to top the US box office in its first weekend, taking a respectable $25.4 million. That’s a little ahead on Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans, although that movie didn’t have Kate Beckinsale or a boost from premium price 3D ticket sales.