#BOXOFFICE: NICHOLAS HOULT CONTINUES REIGN WITH “JACK THE GIANT SLAYER”

If there was any doubt Nicholas Hoult has made a successful transition from a Child Actor, let your fears subside as the British Import debuts atop the Box Office a second time in a month with Warner Bros.‘ Jack The Giant Slayer.  The $195 million Action-Adventure directed by Bryan Singer came with high hopes, hence some are seeing the $28 million from 3,525 theatres it earned this weekend as a bit of a disappointment.  International numbers still have yet to come in, but expect it to fare well overseas.  Reviews were mixed for the Film, garnering 52% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and Audiences responded with a decent B+ rating at CinemaScore.

After what already has been an outstanding run,  Identity Thief still is going strong in fourth in its fourth week, with $9.7 million this weekend, just surpassing the $100-million mark in North America.

Critics didn’t love College–Comedy 21 and Over, but it performed well enough to debut at number three this weekend with $9 million from 2,771 theatres for Relativity Media/eOne Films.    Fear not though as the Film starring Justin Chon, Skylar Astin and Miles Teller cost  $13 million and likely will turn in a profit in its theatrical run. Audiences responded with a B CinemaScore.

The Last Exorcism Part II debuts in fourth spot with $8 million from 2,700 theatres, a far cry from the $20 million its Predecessor made back in 2010. Made for a micro-budget of $5 million, the Horror produced by Eli Roth, earned negative reviews (15% at Rotten Tomatoes).

Meanwhile, Snitch in its second week slips to fifth spot with $7.7 million for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, just ahead of Romantic-Thriller Safe Haven with $6.1 million.

Gaining tons of Oscars exposure last weekend with Jennifer Lawrence‘s Best Actress win, Silver Linings Playbook in its 16th week of release, shows its mettle with $5.8 million in seventh spot, now earning cumulatively $115 million in North America.  It cost only $21 million to make, and even with its extensive Marketing which began back around September, it still turns in a big profit.

Dark Skies rounds-out to the Top Ten with $3.4 million in its second week, earning $13.4 million for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films.  Meanwhile, bubbling-under in Limited Release is Fox Searchlight‘s well-reviewed Stoker, opening in seven theatres with $158k.