Box Office Charts: w/e 13 March 2009

In the US: WATCHMEN inevitably takes #1, although its $55m haul is a slight underperformance from the financier's perspective, and the mixed reviews are expected to see a sizeable drop-off in week 2... no other films really tried to compete, but there's mild amusement that the Jonas Brothers movie drops a mighty seven places from #2 to #9 in its second week...

US TOP 10

(-) 1. Watchmen $55.2m
(1) 2. Madea Goes To Jail $8.53m
(4) 3. Taken $7.33m
(3) 4. Slumdog Millionaire $6.81m
(6) 5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop $4.15m
(5) 6. He's Just Not That Into You $4.02m
(7) 7. Coraline $3.26m
(9) 8. Confessions Of A Shopaholic $3.1m
(2) 9. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience $2.83m
(10) 10. Fired Up! $2.48m

In the UK: Echoing its US success, WATCHMEN comfortably takes #1... THE YOUNG VICTORIA is a slight disappointment at #4, but considering it was released in the week-of-Watchmen, that's not too bad...

UK TOP 10

(-) 1. Watchmen £3.2m
(1) 2. Slumdog Millionaire £1.28m
(2) 3. Gran Torino £1.21m
(-) 4. The Young Victoria £1m
(4) 5. Bolt £978k
(5) 6. Confessions Of A Shopaholic £977k
(3) 7. The Unborn £749k
(7) 8. Hotel For Dogs £569k
(6) 9. The International £423k
(8) 10. He's Just Not That Into You £317k

UK RELEASES THIS WEEK

Bronson

Biopic. The lifestory of one of the UK's most violent criminals, who craved celebrity.
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn Starring: Tom Hardy, Matt King, Kelly Adams, Katy Baker, Amanda Burton & Edward Bennett-Coles
Tomatometer: 100% (Fresh; based on 5 reviews)

The Burning Plain

Drama. A mother and daughter try to bond after the girl's difficult childhood.
Director: Guillermo Arriaga Starring: Charlie Theron, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Lawrence, Jose Maria Yazpik & Joaquim de Almeida
Tomatometer: 33% (Rotten; based on 6 reviews)

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel

Sci-Fi Comedy. Three social outcasts try to navigate a time-travel conundrum from their local pub.
Director: Gareth Carrivick Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Dean Lennox Kelly, Marc Wootton & Anna Faris.

Hush

Thriller. A young couple on a motorway journey are drawn into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a truck driver.
Director: Mark Tonderai Starring: William Ash, Christine Bottomley, Claire Keelan, Stuart McQuarrie & Peter Wyatt

Marley & Me

Comedy drama. A family learn important life lessons from their unruly new dog.
Director: David Frankel Starring: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin & Haley Bennett
US Box Office:
Tomatometer: 61% (Fresh; based on 112 reviews) "Pet owners should love it, but Marley and Me is only sporadically successful in wringing drama and laughs from its scenario."