This time it was the woman with a gun who took control.
The revenge thriller "The Brave One," starring Jodie Foster as a vigilante killer on the streets of New York, knocked the Russell Crowe western "3:10 to Yuma" out of first place at the box office over the weekend, grossing an estimated $14 million in the United States and Canada.
"Women are really responding to the movie even though it has its violent moments," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. "That's encouraging, and we positioned the movie at a time when we've got room to run."
Indeed, it was a slow weekend at the box office, with total receipts of about $78 million. That tally was essentially even with the same period in 2006.
Next week's major wide releases -- the comedy "Good Luck Chuck," with Dane Cook and Jessica Alba, and the horror thriller "Resident Evil: Extinction" -- are aimed at younger crowds, Fellman said, so "The Brave One" probably would continue to attract adult audiences.
Its opening-weekend attendance was estimated at 55% female and 70% age 30 and up. Older females rated the film highest in exit polls, Fellman said.
Foster is being talked about as a possible awards contender for her role in the film, and a strong box-office run would benefit her chances. "The Brave One" has received generally positive reviews from critics.
Lionsgate Films' critically acclaimed "3:10 to Yuma," which dipped only 35% from its opening weekend, was No. 2, followed very closely by the New Line comedy "Mr. Woodcock," starring Billy Bob Thornton and Susan Sarandon. The films grossed about $9 million each. "Mr. Woodcock" could be New Line's latest box-office dud.
The big-budget South Korean creature feature "Dragon Wars" placed fourth, with an estimated $5.4 million, or a paltry $2,400 per theater, for Freestyle Releasing. The film is already a huge hit in South Korea, however, with about $55 million in ticket sales.
Three specialty releases got off to encouraging starts.
David Cronenberg's thriller "Eastern Promises," a top award winner at the Toronto International Film Festival, averaged $37,000 a theater at 15 locations for Universal's Focus Features.
Despite mixed reviews, Julie Taymor's musical romance "Across the Universe" averaged $30,000 at 23 locations for Sony Pictures.
And Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah" averaged about $16,000 at nine locations for Warner Independent Pictures.
