Taken is top film this past weekend

Contrary to what was stated in our previous post, Taken was the top earner at the theaters this weekend. The film made approximately $24.7 million, which is impressive since films tend to fare poorly during Super Bowl weekends. The film features Liam Neeson on the trail of his kidnapped daughter. The second highest grossing film this weekend was Paul Blart: Mall Cop, still holding on near the top.

http://www.ew.com/ew/news/charts/0,,,00.html

Paul Blart: Mall Cop set to become top weekend film for 3 weeks in a row

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is set to become the top grossing comedy film for the third weekend in a row. It is doing so well, it is anticipated to break the $100 million mark this weekend. Not bad for a film that cost $26 million to make. This film also marks the first time that Kevin James portrays a lead character.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FILM_PAUL_BLART?SITE=WWLAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Paul Blart: Mall Cop tops weekend Box Office 2nd Week in a row

For the second week in a row, Paul Blart: Mall Cop has been the number one film the second week in a row making about $21.5 million this past weekend. This brings the current sum to $64.8 million. Not bad for a movie that cost $26 million to make.

http://www.ew.com/ew/news/charts/0,,,00.html
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mallcop.htm

Current trend of World War II Era films are not drawing large audiences

The current two World War II Era films, Valkyrie and Defiance, are not having the level of success that the producers expected. Valkyrie released on Christmas Day of 2008, is a film about the German plot to assassinate Hitler. While Defiance chronicles the story of 3 Jewish brothers that saved 1200 Jews by hiding them in the forest while at the same time engaged in partisan resistance against the Nazis and was released on December 31, 2008. Valkyrie reportedly cost $75 million to make and just recently broke even with that amount. Defiance reportedly cost $50 million to make and to date has only made about $14 million. Ironically, the current top films have been comedies. A possible explanation for this could be due to the poor state of the economy and movie goers wanting a positive escape from reality. I also wish to note that the current number 2 ranked film is Gran Torino.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=valkyrie.htm
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=defiance.htm

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is top movie this weekend

This past weekend, the film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, was the top grossing movie. The movie features star of the TV Show "King of Queens," Kevin James, portraying a mall security guard. I have not seen this movie yet, but I will eventually because I am a fan of comedies. Kevin James has also been seen in films such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and Hitch.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/18/box.office/index.html