The horror film The Roommate took the top spot as expected, claiming $15.6 million, according to studio estimates from box office tracking firm Hollywood.com.
The debut was on the low end of projections from most analysts, who expected poor reviews to limit grosses. The PG-13 film, starring Minka Kelly and Billy Zane, earned some of the toughest reviews of the year. According to the survey aggregator site RottenTomatoes.com, only 9% of the nation?s critics recommended the movie.
Still, there was little competition to keep the chiller down. Sanctum, the 3-D underwater cave drama from executive producer James Cameron, was second with $9.2 million. That film, too, fell below projections and was raked by reviewers, 29% of whom gave the picture a thumbs-up, RottenTomatoes.com says.
Gitesh Pandya, president of BoxOfficeGuru.com, says several factors were working against the industry, which is hoping to buck an 11-week slide at the box office.
"The triple threat of the Super Bowl, the aftermath of a crippling winter storm affecting 100 million people and another weekend of not-so-exciting new releases (made) moviegoing a low priority," he says.
No Strings Attached, the romantic comedy starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, dropped two spots from its No. 1 debut to take third place with $8.4 million. The movie has earned $51.8 million in 10 days.
The slow weekend gave the slate of films contending for best-picture Oscars another chance to surge. The King's Speech, the $15 million British film that has become the front-runner in the Academy Awards best-picture race, was fourth with $8.3 million. Since its release nearly three months ago, Speech has earned $84.1 million.
The superhero adaptation The Green Hornet continues to hold well, taking the No. 5 place with $6.1 million. The movie has earned $87.2 million since its release a month ago.
Ticket sales remain down 24% compared with the same period last year, while attendance is down 25%, Hollywood.com says.
Final figures are due Monday.
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