'Looper' is No. 1 in movies on demand and knocks 'Ted' out of the top spot

The sci-fi action thriller "Looper" ended the three-week, chart-topping reign of "Ted" by debuting in the No. 1 spot for movies on demand, from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013, according to Rentrak."Looper" is a sci-fi thriller that takes place primarily in the year 2044, when time travel is possible. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe Simmons, a "looper," which is an assassin hired by the mafia to go back in the past and kill someone. Joe soon finds out that he's the target of his own "looper" hit when his future self from 30 years in the future (played Bruce Willis) has been sent to kill him, in what is known as "closing the loop." It's then a race against time as the older Joe Simmons aims to complete his murderous assignment and young Joe Simmons fights to stay alive. Emily Blunt co-stars as a woman who plays a role in determining Joe Simmons' fate. The movie got high praise from most critics and was a solid but not spectacular hit at the box office.

"Looper" trailer"Looper" trailer

"Pitch Perfect" is No. 2 for the third week in a row. A college student named Beca Mitchell (played by Anna Kendrick) reluctantly joins an all-female a cappella singing group named the Bellas, consisting of an eclectic mix of other students. As the Bellas prepare for an international competition, Beca suggests that the Bella try new ideas, but she gets resistance from the group's domineering leader, Aubrey Posen (played by Anna Camp). The movie got good reviews and was a modest hit.

"Ted" dropped from No. 1 to No. 3. Mark Wahlberg stars in this raunchy comedy as a Boston car salesman named John Bennett, whose best friend happens to be a foul-mouthed teddy bear named Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane, who directed and co-wrote the movie). Mila Kunis co-stars as John's frequently exasperated girlfriend, Lori Collins. "Ted" got mixed reviews but was a box-office smash and now ranks as the biggest R-rated comedy of all time.

"Trouble With the Curve" rose from No. 6 to No. 4. Clint Eastwood stars as a gruff talent scout in professional baseball who might be forced into retirement after new management starts to think his scouting methods are outdated. He gets some unexpected help from his estranged daughter (played by Amy Adams) and a young scout (played by Justin Timberlake) whom he mentors along the way. The movie got mostly negative reviews from critics and did mediocre business at the box office.

"The Bourne Legacy" dropped from No. 3 to No. 5. It's the fourth film in the "Bourne" series, but Jeremy Renner replaces Matt Damon as the lead character. In "The Bourne Legacy," Renner is another spy named Aaron Cross. Through a series of events set off by Damon's Jason Bourne character, Cross finds that he is the target of an assassination plot. Rachel Weisz and Ed Norton are among the co-stars. "The Bourne Legacy" did great business at the box office an mixed reviews, but it wasn't able to commercial success and the popularity of 2007's "The Bourne Ultimatum."

Here are the Top 5 movies on demand for December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013:

1. Looper (debut)

2. Pitch Perfect (No. 2 in the previous week)

3. Ted (No. 1 in the previous week)

4. Trouble With the Curve (No. 4 in the previous week)

5. The Bourne Legacy (No. 3 in the previous week)