#BOXOFFICE: “IDENTITY THIEF” STEALS THE SHOW ON STORMY WEEKEND

A massive Storm on the East Coast couldn’t keep the Moviegoers home, with Identity Thief from Universal Pictures opening huge at the Box Office with $36 million from 3,141 theatres.  The Comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Justin Bateman was panned widely by Critics (24% at Rotten Tomatoes), but Audiences responded fairly well, garnering a B CinemaScore.  If there was any doubt that McCarthy‘s Career is going strong, Bridesmaids which garnered her an Oscar Nomination last year, made only $26 million in its opening weekend.

Last week’s Champ Warm Bodies continues to perform solidly in second with $11.7 million this weekend for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, tallying-in at an impressive $36.8 million in two weeks.  The Zombie Rom-Com was made for $30 million.

Brilliant Psychological-Thriller, Side Effects, boasts an Oscar-worthy Cast including Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jude Law and Channing Tatum, but could only muster a third place debut for Open Road Films/eOne Films with $9.4 million from 2,605 theatres.  Meanwhile, Critics loved what is being called Steven Soderbergh‘s final Film, giving it 85% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences didn’t respond quite as well with a B CinemaScore.  Perhaps it will fare better in its secondary run on DVD/Blu-ray/Video-on-Demand.

Silver Linings Playbook continues to receive a major Oscars Boost and it doesn’t hurt that Jennifer Lawrence is just about everywhere including the cover of Vanity Fair and a high-profile appearance on Saturday Night Live a couple weeks back.  The Best Picture Contender earns $6.4 million this weekend in fourth, almost on its way to that illusive $100-million mark for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films (Alliance Films).

Former Champ Mama in its fourth week of release earns $4.2 million in sixth spot, just ahead of Zero Dark Thirty in seventh with $3.9 million.  Argo now in its 18th week of release has a remarkable resurgence with $2.4 million earned this weekend in eighth, likely due to the exposure from Ben Affleck‘s recent Director’s Guild Award and the Ensemble’s Screen Actors Guild Awards victories. Top Gun‘s 3-D Re-Release by Paramount Pictures rounds out the Top Ten with $2 million, from 300 theatres.