In the US: Comedian Kevin James has unexpected pulling power with the American public, making the poorly-reviewed PAUL BLART: MALL COP the country's #1 in its opening week… the 3-D marketing campaign for slasher remake MY BLOODY VALENTINE works quite well, with the flick straight in at #3... musical biopic NOTORIOUS, about the life and death of rapper Notorious B.I.G is something of a disappointment at #4 with $20m... doggie comedy HOTEL FOR DOGS does far better than it should, in at #5... Daniel Craig's presence doesn't get Americans enthused about DEFIANCE, debuting at #8... and Slumdog Millionaire re-enters the chart at #10 because of its Golden Globe wins...US TOP 10
(-) 1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop $31.8m
(1) 2. Gran Torino $22m
(-) 3. My Bloody Valentine $21.2m
(-) 4. Notorious $20.5m
(-) 5. Hotel For Dogs $17m
(2) 6. Bride Wars $11.7m
(3) 7. The Unborn $9.34m
(-) 8. Defiance $8.91m
(4) 9. Marley & Me $6.14m
(R) 10. Slumdog Millionaire $5.85m
In the UK: It's polar opposite success for Slumdog Millionaire, which inches up the chart from #2 to #1 in Britain… Will Smith's latest "serious" movie SEVEN POUNDS does well to grab #2... 3-D expectations help MY BLOODY VALENTINE to #4... Brits show commendable taste, by refusing to let BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA go any higher than # 6 in its opening week (can you believe that was the US #1 for a few weeks?)... but then we show a disappointing lack of taste, with few people turning out for awards-laden Oscar hopeful THE WRESTLER, which crashes in at #8!
UK TOP 10
(2) 1. Slumdog Millionaire £2.6m
(-) 2. Seven Pounds £1.5m
(1) 3. Role Models £1.4m
(-) 4. My Bloody Valentine £1.33m
(3) 5. Bride Wars £1.31m
(-) 6. Beverly Hills Chihuahua £1.02m
(4) 7. Defiance £805k
(-) 8. The Wrestler £802k
(5) 9. Yes Man £591k
(8) 10. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
Frost/NixonBio-drama. A British talk-show host interviews President Richard Nixon after the events of the Watergate scandal.
Director: Ron Howard Starring: Michael Sheen, Frank Langella, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen & Oliver Platt.
Tomatometer: 90% (Fresh; based on 178 reviews) "Frost/Nixon is weighty and eloquent; a cross between a boxing match and a ballet with Oscar worthy performances."
MilkBio-drama. The story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk.
Director: Gus Van Sant Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Diego Luna, Alison Pill & Victor Garber.
US Box Office: $20 million.
Tomatometer: 93% (Fresh; based on 188 reviews) "Anchored by Sean Penn's powerhouse performance, Milk is a triumphant account of America's first openly gay man elected to public office."
Rachel Getting MarriedRomantic drama. An alcoholic young woman is released from rehab to attend her sister's wedding.
Director: Jonathan Demme Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin, Anna Deavere Smith & Anisa George.
US Box Office: $10 million.
Tomatometer: 86% (Fresh; based on 155 reviews) "Engrossing tale of family angst, highlighted by Hathaway's powerful performance."
ValkyrieHistorical drama. A plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler is hatched by a group of German soldiers during WWII.
Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard & Kevin McNally.
US Box Office: $78 million.
Tomatometer: 59% (Fresh; based on 160 reviews) "Given the subject matter, Valkyrie could have been an outstanding historical thriller, but settles for being a mildly entertaining, but disposable yarn."
Underworld: Rise Of The LycansAction-horror. The centuries-old feud between aristocratic vampires and their slave werewolves is revealed in this prequel.
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos Starring: Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux & David Ashton
Tomatometer: 55% (Fresh; based on 11 reviews)
