Monsters vs Aliens vs Nicolas Cage
In the US: Dreamworks' 3D CGI animation MONSTERS VS ALIENS secures the #1 spot with its kid-friendly action spectacle... horror THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, about a family that move into a former mortuary, nabs #2... Renny Harlin's 12 ROUNDS, about a detective facing a dozen challenges to get his kidnapped girlfriend back, limps in at #7... and the remake of Wes Craven's '70s shocker THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT creeps into the top 10, at a #10...
US TOP 10
(-) 1. Monsters vs Aliens $59.3m
(-) 2. The Haunting In Connecticut $23m
(1) 3. Knowing $14.7m
(2) 4. I Love You, Man $12.7m
(3) 5. Duplicity $7.67m
(4) 6. Race To Witch Mountain $5.8m
(-) 7. 12 Rounds $5.33m
(5) 8. Watchmen $2.73m
(7) 9. Taken $2.7m
(-) 10. The Last House On The Left $2.64m
In the UK: Nicolas Cage's poorly-reviewed apocryphal sci-fi KNOWING still manages to lure an audience, straight in at #1... horror THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT scares itself to #3... Michael Sheen-starring biopic THE DAMNED UNITED, about football manager Brian Clough, debuts at a disappointing #5... and, incidentally, Watchmen drops from #5 to #9 in only its fourth week...
UK TOP 10
(-) 1. Knowing £2.4m
(1) 2. Marley & Me £1.6m
(-) 3. The Haunting In Connecticut £1.1m
(2) 4. Paul Blart: Mall Cop £1.02m
(-) 5. The Damned United £618k
(3) 6. Duplicity £547m
(6) 7. Gran Torino £339k
(4) 8. Lesbian Vampire Killers £322k
(5) 9. Watchmen £303k
(8) 10. The Young Victoria £233k
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
THE BOAT THAT ROCKED
Comedy drama. A group of DJ's in the 1960s illegally broadcast rock n' roll music to the British public from a boat in the North Sea.
Director: Richard Curtis Starring: Bill Nighy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Branagh, Nick Frost, January Jones, Gemma Arterton, Talula Riley, Rhys Darby, Jack Davenport, Chris O'Dowd, Ralph Brown, Katherine Parkinson & Emma Thompson
Tomatometer: 54% (Fresh; based on 28 reviews)
MONSTERS VS ALIENS
Animated sci-fi action. A meteorite crashes to Earth and and transforms a young girl into a giant, before she's taken to a secret compound to meet other freaks and monsters the US government need to defeat alien invaders.
Directors: Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon Voices: Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Jeffrey Tambor, Ed Helms & Renee Zellweger
Tomatometer: 72% (Fresh; based on 173 reviews) "Though it doesn't approach the depth of the best animated films, Monsters Vs. Aliens has enough humor and special effects to entertain moviegoers of all ages."
RELIGULOUS
Documentary. Bill Maher takes a satirical look at the role of religion in the world.
Director: Larry Charles
Tomatometer: 71% (Fresh; based on 129 reviews) "Religulous is funny and offensive in equal measure, and aims less to change hearts and minds than to inspire conversation."
