'Argo' is No. 1 in movies on demand; 'Breaking Dawn Part 2' debuts at No. 2

"Argo" held on to a second week at No. 1 in movies on demand from Feb. 25 to March 3, 2013, according to Rentrak. The movie had the added benefit of being released on demand five days before the 85th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, where "Argo" won three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. Based on true events, “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 — the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (played by Ben Affleck, who also directed and produced "Argo") comes up with a risky plan to get the Americans safely out of the country. "Argo" was big hit with critics and movie audiences who saw the film in theaters.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" debuted at No. 2. Since the movie premiered on a Saturday, not on the usual Tuesday that most movies premiere on demand, the debut is based on a partial week of revenue for the movie. Once a full week is tallied for "Breaking Dawn Part 2," the film could take the No. 1 spot for movies on demand, but it faces stiff competition from "Wreck-It Ralph," which premiered on demand three days after "Breaking Dawn Part 2." In "Breaking Dawn Part 2," the final chapter of the "Twilight Saga" movies, vampire married couple Bella and Edward Cullen (played by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson) are adjusting to life as new parents. The birth of Bella and Edward’s daughter Renesmee (played by Blanca Estella Gomez) brings conflict between Bella and her lifelong werewolf friend Jacob (played by Taylor Lautner) and an all-out war between the Cullens and the Volturi vampires. Although the "Twilight" movies have generally been hated by critics, the movies have all been blockbusters because of their devoted fans.

"Skyfall" fell from No. 2 to No. 3. Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in "Skyfall," the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In "Skyfall" (which has been nominated for five Oscars), Bond’s loyalty to M (played by Judi Dench) is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat from a villain named Silva (played by Javier Bardem), no matter how personal the cost. "Skyfall," which got rave reviews from critics and was a global smash, grossed more than $1 billion worldwide and is now the most commercially successful James Bond film so far. The movie won Oscars for Best Original Song ("Skyfall") and Best Sound Editing.

"Flight" dropped from No. 3 to No. 4. In this Oscar-nominated role, Denzel Washington plays William "Whip" Whitaker, an alcoholic pilot of commercial planes, who pulls off a daring flight maneuver that saves many lives when his plane crashes due to an equipment malfunction. The problem is that he was drunk and high on cocaine while flying, and now he's under investigation. "Flight" got mostly positive reviews from critics and was a hit with audiences who saw the movie in theaters.

"Anna Karenina" rose from No. 6 to No. 5 in its second week on demand. This epic love story (adapted by Oscar winner Tom Stoppard from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel) is the third collaboration of Oscar nominee Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright, following the award-winning successes “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement.” Knightley plays the title role, an unhappily married woman in late-19th-century Russia high-society, who has an affair with a military man named Count Vronsky (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Jude Law co-stars as Anna's stern husband Karenin. This version of "Anna Karenina" (which won an Oscar for Best Costume Design) had a limited release in U.S. theaters, so it wasn't big moneymaker at the box office. The movie got mixed reviews from critics.

Here are the Top 5 movies on demand for Feb. 25 to March 3, 2013:

1. Argo (No. 1 in the previous week)

2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (debut)

3. Skyfall (No. 2 in the previous week)

4. Flight (No. 3 in the previous week)

5. Anna Karenina (No. 6 in the previous week)