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SCREEN GEMS
For the first time in eight weeks, the box office was about something other than blue creatures on some alien planet.
Screen Gems's romantic drama “Dear John” will forever be known as the movie that broke “Avatar's” No. 1 streak. The new release debuted with about $30.5 million. Channing Tatum stars as a Special Forces soldier named John Tyree in the flick based on Nicholas Sparks's novel of the same title. While on leave, John develops an intense bond with college student Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) but their courtship is cut short when John's deployment is extended.
Twentieth Century Fox's “Avatar,” from filmmaker James Cameron, earned about $22.9 million in second-place, raising its domestic total to more than $629.3 million. The sci-fi adventure tells the story of a wounded ex-marine (Sam Worthington), thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.
The weekend's other major new release, an action flick from Lionsgate Films called “From Paris with Love,” earned about $8.2 million in third-place. Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as a personal aide to the U.S. Ambassador in France who pairs up with John Travolta's trigger-happy CIA agent to stop a terrorist attack on Paris. A 48-hour white-knuckle shooting spree through the Parisian underworld commences as both men try to simply stay alive.
Warner Bros. Pictures's “Edge of Darkness” fell two spots to fourth-place with about $6.9 million. It has earned about $28.9 million since debuting last weekend. Mel Gibson portrays veteran homicide detective and single father Thomas Craven in the action drama. When his 24-year-old daughter is murdered outside his home, Det. Craven uncovers a secret world of corporate cover-ups, government collusion and murder.
Twentieth Century Fox's “The Tooth Fairy” dropped to fifth-place with about $6.6 million. It has earned about $34.5 million during its three weekends in theaters. Dwayne Johnson plays minor league hockey player Derek Thompson in the family comedy. When Derek discourages a child from dreaming, he is ordered to spend one week as a tooth fairy. As Derek attempts to adapt to the role, he begins to discover his own forgotten dreams.
Rounding out this weekend's top 10 were Touchstone Pictures's “When in Rome” ($5.5 million), Warner Bros. Pictures's “The Book of Eli” ($4.7 million), Fox Searchlight Pictures's “Crazy Heart” ($3.6 million), Screen Gems's “Legion” ($3.5 million) and Warner Bros. Pictures's “Sherlock Holmes” ($2.5 million).
The following is a list of the top ten films at the box office for the weekend of Feb. 5-7, 2010. They are currently playing at AMC and Harkins movie theaters throughout the Phoenix area. Click any title for a full review and check the NCM.com map at the bottom of this page for specific showtimes and locations.
1. “Dear John,” $30.5 million
2. “Avatar,” $22.9 million
3. “From Paris with Love,” $8.2 million
4. “Edge of Darkness,” $6.9 million
5. “The Tooth Fairy,” $6.6 million
6. “When in Rome,” $5.5 million
7. “The Book of Eli,” $4.7 million
8. “Crazy Heart,” $3.6 million
9. “Legion,” $3.5 million
10. “Sherlock Holmes,” $2.5 million
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