Leading the second full week of the year, Mark Wahlberg's Contraband got off to a solid start, with $33.9 million in its' first seven days after its' $28.5 million four-day extended weekend. The film was on top every day except Monday, and had its' daily gross go downward from Tues.-Thurs., which isn't entirely unexpected given the previous frame was an extended one. Even with favorable audience reception, its' questionable on how well this film will hold over the weekend with a brigade of action movies debuting in theaters today.
It wasn't able to take the top spot, but Disney's 3D re-release of Beauty and the Beast still managed a strong second place start. The animated classic earned a respectable $24.8 million over its' first seven days, following its' $22.2 million four-day extended weekend. With kids in school, its' easy to imagine that this didn't see strong business Tues.-Thurs., but it did briefly take the top spot on Monday and its' daily grosses have altogether held up better than Contraband's. With no new competition for its' core audience, Beauty is set to hold very well this weekend.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol slid one spot to third place, and continued holding well with a 35% week-to-week drop to $16.6 million over its' fifth week, following its' $14.2 million four-day weekend and has picked up $191.8 million in 34 days. It won't reach the $200 million mark this weekend, but next week looks much more likely. Like Contraband, its' chances of holding well aren't very strong since there is a bunch of new competition in theaters this weekend.
Joyful Noise got off to a decent start in fourth place, with $15.8 million over its' first seven days, following its' $13.8 million four-day weekend. Weekday business has been modest for the musical comedy and based on word-of-mouth, chances are favorable for this film to see a good hold this frame.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows rounded out the Top 5 in its' fifth full week, holding solidly with a 33% week-to-week ease to $12.2 million, following its' $10.4 million four-day weekend and has earned $173.8 million in 34 days. The Robert Downey, Jr. adventure sequel is in for a heavier drop than what has been seen in recent weeks because of more competition.
Meanwhile, The Devil Inside collapsed due to overwhelmingly negative audience reception, crashing 73% week-to-week to $10.3 million after its' $9.1 million four-day weekend, and has picked up a still solid $48.6 million in just 14 days. The horror flick will likely fall out of the Top 10 this weekend.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ($9.8 million, -37%), War Horse ($9 million, -25%), Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked ($8.6 million, -21%), and The Iron Lady ($8.3 million seven-day start) rounded out the Top 10. (NOTE: We Bought A Zoo was just $21,000 behind Iron Lady with $8.3 million as well, but down 21% from last week)
