#BOXOFFICE: “A MADEA HALLOWEEN” SPOOKS ITS WAY TO #1!

In an unexpected turn of events, TYLER PERRY’S BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN debuts atop the Box Office for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films with $24.5 million from 2,260 theatres across North America. Despite a 31% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, Audiences gave it a resilient A CinemaScore explaining why it is audiences keep coming back for more and more Madea!

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK debuts in second spot for Paramount Pictures with $22 million from 3,780 theatres. It gets a 39% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

In third is THE ACCOUNTANT with $15 million for Warner Bros., totaling $47 million over two weeks.

OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL debuts in fourth spot for Universal Pictures with $13 million from 3,167 theatres. It gets a C CinemaScore from Audiences, but a fantastic 81% on the Tomatometer from Critics.  Its 2014 Predecessor opened with $19.8 million.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN is in fifth this weekend with $$7.4 million for Universal Pictures. Over three weeks it has made $59 million domestically.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES opens in seventh for 20th Century Fox with $5.4 million from 3,022 theatres. The Action-Comedy despite a stacked cast including Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot and Zach Galifianakis, manages only an 18% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.

KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW? in its second week rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million for Universal Pictures. It has made $18.8 million total thus far.

#BOXOFFICE: “ZERO DARK THIRTY” SHINES BRIGHT AT BOX OFFICE

Huge numbers for Zero Dark Thirty which in a perfectly-timed expansion to 2,937 theatres just one day after Oscar Nominations were announced, earns $24 million for Sony Pictures/Alliance Films. The intense Drama about the successful capture of Osama bin Laden, to date has earned $31 million after two v. successful weeks in Limited Release. Reviews equally are solid with it earning a stellar 92% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. Many are seeing this latest Effort from Oscar-winning Director Kathryn Bigelow as a legitimate contender to win Best Picture next month.

A Haunted House opens in 2,160 theatres south of the border for Open Road Films, earning $17.5 million and opening in second.  The Horror-Comedy stars Marlon Wayans and spoofs Found-Footage Horrors like Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside and has yet to be released in Canada. Critics as expected, ripped the Film to shreds, earning a paltry 10% on the Tomatometer, but Users overwhelmingly gave it an 85% rating and Cinemascore gave it a B- rating; not bad.

After delays, Mobster Drama Gangster Squad debuts respectably in third with $17 million from 3,103 theatres. Made for $75 million, the slick-looking Film boasts a stellar Cast including Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Giovanni Ribisi and Emma Stone. Although Critics had their opinions about the Movie, Audiences responded well and it gets a B+ Cinemascore.

Still going strong after a Christmas release, Django Unchained lands in fourth this week for The Weinstein Co./Alliance Films, earning $14.5 million. Just nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, that news likely helped propel Moviegoers into the theatres this weekend. It already has earned over $125 million domestically.

Les Misérables, like Django Unchained, continues to get a push from its Oscar Nomination for Best Picture, earning $9.5 million in its third week. Above this, its Soundtrack is performing exceedingly-well on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart, currently the number one-selling Album in North America.

The Hobbit in its fifth week lands in sixth with $9 million – to date earning $277 million domestically. This places it  just ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln which earns a v. solid $6.3 million in its tenth week.

Last week’s Champ, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D is unable to maintain its dominance, slipping to number eighth this weekend with $5.5 million after debuting on-top. Paramount Pictures’ Jack Reacher rounds-out the Top Ten with $5 million.

#BOXOFFICE: “THE HOBBIT” DOMINATES A SECOND WEEK

For a second week in-a-row, Warner Bros.’ The Hobbit maintains its dominance at the Box Office, bringing-in $36.7 million from 4,100 theatres. In its two week run so far domestically it has earned $145.2 million and despite a significant drop this weekend, it still is far and clear ahead of the competition.

Tom Cruise shows that he definitely still has what it takes to draw a crowd, with Paramount Pictures’ Novel Series Adaptation Jack Reacher earning a respectable $15.6 million in its debut from 3,352 theatres.  Critics had generally positive things to say about the Film,  tallying-in at 69% at Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

Judd Apatow‘s Knocked-Up sorta Sequel This is 40 opens in 2,912 theatres this weekend in third with $12 million for Universal Pictures. Reviews unfortunately have been mixed for the Comedy starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, garnering only 49% on the Tomatometer.

Rise of the Guardians still is going strong in fourth with $5.9 million for Paramount Pictures, landing ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln with $5.6 million in fifth.

Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand on paper seemed like an amazing idea, but Mother-Son Comedy The Guilt Trip which perhaps would’ve better been saved for a Mother’s Day release than the already crowded Holiday slate.   It earns $5.4 million in its opening also for Paramount Pictures, good enough for sixth.

Experiencing a slip this weekend is former Champ Skyfall with $4.7 million in eighth, while The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 rounds out the Top Ten in its sixth week with $2.6 million.  Meanwhile, Oscar Frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty, which is set for a January wide release, opens limited in five theatres, grossing an impressive $410k from.  Keep a tab on this one as big things are expected from Director Kathryn Bigelow.