'A Christmas Carol' lights up box office with $30.1 million

November 9, 4:20 PMPhoenix Movie ExaminerJoseph J. Airdo

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WALT DISNEY PICTURES

Ebenezer Scrooge is even wealthier after this weekend as moviegoers got in the holiday spirit.

Walt Disney Pictures' “A Christmas Carol,” in which Jim Carrey portrays Scrooge, stuffed about $30.1 million into its stocking, placing it atop the box office tree. Separating himself from his nephew (Colin Firth) and faithful clerk (Gary Oldman), Scrooge resigns himself to a grave Christmas. Of course, when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come (all also portrayed by Carrey) take him on an eye-opening journey, Scrooge must open his heart to undo years of humbug.

Last weekend's top-earner Sony Pictures Entertainment's “This is It” earned about $13.2 million in second-place. That figure brings the movie's total to about $57 million. Director Kenny Ortrega offers moviegoers and music lovers a unique look at Jackson's rehearsals for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place this summer in the concert film. Drawn from more than 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, the documentary captures the artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show.

Overture Films' “The Men Who Stare at Goats” debuted in third-place with about $12.7 million. While searching for his next big story, reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a man who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. Military unit training a legion of soldiers in the psychic arts. Cassady is no longer active but the kidnapping of the program's founder Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) has called him back to the mission field.

Universal Pictures' “The Fourth Kind” debuted in fourth place with about $12.2 million. Milla Jovovich portrays Dr. Abigail Tyler, a psychologist who has began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovers evidence of alien abduction. Integrating archival footage, the thriller exposes the terrified revelations of multiple witnesses whose accounts of being visited by alien figures all share identical details.

With Halloween but a distant memory, Paramount Pictures' horror flick “Paranormal Activity” tumbled to fifth-place. Earning about $8.3 million this weekend, the project has made about $97.1 million to date. Shot documentary-style, the movie tells the story of a young, middle class couple who moves into what seems like a typical suburban house. As time moves on, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Pictures' “The Box” debuted in sixth-place with about $7.6 million. Set during the 1970s, the film centers around Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden), a married couple who are the recipients of a wooden box with a red button. Mysterious stranger Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) gives the couple 24 hours to decide whether $1 million is worth the life of a random stranger.

Rounding out this weekend's top 10 were Universal Pictures' “Couples Retreat” ($6.1 million), Overture Films' “Law Abiding Citizen” ($6 million), Warner Bros. Pictures' “Where the Wild Things Are” ($4.2 million) and Summit Entertainment's “Astro Boy”($2.6 million).

Box Office Results for Nov. 6-8, 2009

1. “A Christmas Carol,” $30.1 million

2. “This is It,” $13.2 million

3. “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” $12.7 million

4. “The Fourth Kind,” $12.2 million

5. “Paranormal Activity,” $8.3 million

6. “The Box,” $7.5 million

7. “Couples Retreat,” $6.1 million

8. “Law Abiding Citizen,” $6 million

9. “Where the Wild Things Are,” $4.2 million

10. “Astro Boy,” $2.6 million

*Click movie titles for full reviews.