"Bride" was largely panned by critics. But the PG film, starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as best friends who accidentally plan their weddings on the same day, did better than most expected. "Unlike the critics who roundly panned it, women of all ages clearly loved this movie," said Chris Aronson, Fox's senior vice president of distribution.
Proving that satisfying horror films can also scare up good business, director David S. Goyer's PG-13 newcomer, "The Unborn," a low-budget thriller from Universal Pictures' recently sold genre label Rogue Pictures, came in third with $21.1 million. This came as good news to Ryan Kavanaugh, whose Relativity Media just bought Rogue for a reported $150 million. "We are absolutely thrilled with our first Rogue release," Kavanaugh said in a statement. Universal marketed and distributed the film.
In fourth was a strong performer for Fox, "Marley & Me," a family comedy starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in a story about a naughty but endearing Labrador who teaches his owners some important life lessons. It took in $11.4 million in its third weekend. The film, based on John Grogan's bestseller, has amassed $123.7 million to date and helped reverse Fox's box-office downturn of last year.
Paramount Pictures' holdover drama, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, was fifth with an estimated $9.5 million. The film, about a man who ages backward, has grossed about $94.3 million since its nationwide bow on Christmas Day.
The only other newcomer this weekend in the top 10, "Not Easily Broken," a faith-based drama from Sony's TriStar Pictures, grossed an estimated $5.6 million.
Overall, Hollywood saw a strong moviegoing weekend with the top three films surpassing expectations despite severe storms blowing through the Midwest and Northeast -- business in New York plunged 31% from last weekend -- NFL playoff games and the deepening recession.
The weekend's total ticket sales amounted to $148 million, up an estimated 14.2% from the same period last year, and attendance was up about 13.4%, according to Media by Numbers. Year-to-date revenue hit $395.2 million, up nearly 25% from last year, with attendance up 24%.
"This is the momentum from 2008 carrying over very strongly in 2009," said Media by Numbers President Paul Dergarabedian. "It's the third consecutive up weekend. This proves once again that the box office is recession-proof and that people are clearly digging deep into their wallets to go to the movies."
