Box office: 'Marley & Me' sits, stays at No. 1
The film adds $24 million for a total of $106.5 million. In second is Adam Sandler's 'Bedtime Stories.'
Twentieth Century Fox's "Marley & Me" remained top dog at the box office this weekend, beginning the New Year as it ended the last one -- as the top-grossing film.
The movie, based on John Grogan's bestseller about his life with an untrainable yet lovable Labrador, stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson and grossed $24 million over the weekend for a total box-office haul of $106.5 million.
"When you're No. 1 for two weeks in a row, you're obviously doing business because people are talking about it," said Bert Livingston, senior vice president and general sales manager for 20th Century Fox Films. "The word of mouth is great."
Walt Disney Studios' "Bedtime Stories," the Adam Sandler film in which he portrays a hotel maintenance worker who spins yarns for his niece and nephews that come true, came in second at the box office, bringing in $20 million over the weekend, for a total of $85 million.
Chuck Viane, Disney's president of distribution, said the two Adams -- Sandler and director Adam Shankman -- delivered the kind of diversion that children and families sought over the holidays, "something to kick back, laugh and have a good time."
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett's film, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story about a man who ages in reverse, ranked No. 3. The Paramount Pictures release brought in $18 million over the weekend, for a total of $79 million, according to box-office tracking firm Media by Numbers.
The Nazi thriller "Valkyrie," starring Tom Cruise as Claus von Stauffenberg, one of a group of German military officers who plotted to kill Adolf Hitler, brought in $14 million over the weekend, for a total of nearly $60.7 million. That put the United Artists/MGM release in fourth place over the weekend.
"Yes Man," the Jim Carrey comedy from Warner Bros., ranked No. 5, taking in $13.9 million over the weekend for a domestic total of $79 million.
Will Smith's drama "Seven Pounds" from Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures, came in at No. 6, with weekend box-office receipts of $10 million. That brought the film's gross to $60 million.
Universal Pictures' animated release "The Tale of Despereaux" took in $7 million over the weekend to claim seventh place at the box office. The movie brought in a total of $43.7 million.
