Box Office: On Being Taken to the Uninvited Town

Two weeks in a row with Paul Blart at number one, dropping a mere 32%? Did NOT see that coming. Of last week's two new releases, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans did the best, taking the number two spot. Inkheart only took in $7.6 million, placing it in seventh for its first week. Here's the top five:

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop: $21.6 million
2. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: $20.8 million
3. Gran Torino: $16.2 million
4. Hotel for Dogs: $12.8 million
5. Slumdog Millionaire: $10.6 million

We've got three new releases this week covering laughs, thrills and scares.

New in Town
What's It All About: Renee Zellweger plays a Florida executive who finds herself transferred to Minnesota in the middle of winter where she finds tons of snow and perhaps the love of her life in Harry Connick Jr.
Why It Might Do Well: The film has two likable leads and I'm sure this will be huge in Minnesota.
Why It Might Not Do Well: As of this writing the film is getting a devastating 0% rating on Rottentomatoes.com.
Number of Theaters: 1,900
Prediction: $7 million

Taken
What's It All About: Liam Neeson stars in this thriller about an ex-soldier on the trail of the slave traders who have taken his daughter.
Why It Might Do Well: Lots of people are probably as curious as I am to see how a Jedi Knight handles conventional weapons, and I think this will be the one to knock Paul Blart out of number one.
Why It Might Not Do Well: 52% at Rottentomatoes.com is a bit underwhelming.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $15 million




The Uninvited
What's It All About: This is a remake of a 2003 Korean film called Janghwa, Hongryeon, which is known in the English-speaking world as A Tale of Two Sisters. A young woman returns home after a stay in a mental hospital, and her recovery is threatened by her new evil stepmom and the presence of a ghost in the family home.
Why It Might Do Well: David Strathairn plays the recently remarried dad.
Why It Might Not Do Well: "Remake" and "PG-13" are considered dirty words by a lot of horror fans.
Number of Theaters: 2,000
Prediction: $14 million

No doubt the Super Bowl is going to take a bite out of box office returns this weekend, so overall numbers are going to take a hit. Here's how I think the top five will end up:
1. Taken
2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
3. The Uninvited
4. Gran Torino
5. Slumdog Millionaire

Another tough week for predictions, but cough (you should take something for that, by the way) gets the kudos for beating the rest of us with a ten.
1. cough: 10
2. Vera: 8
2. I Eat Robots: 8
3. T-odd: 7
4. lostinafog: 6
5. Ray: 5
5. AJ Wiley: 5
5. Laura: 5
5. English Gavz: 5
6. VP: 3
6. Matt: 3
6. forgotaboutgabe: 3
6. NP: 3
6. Zach: 3
6. Farquharson: 3

Does Taken have what it takes to maul Paul Blart? Post your predictions for the top five movies in the comments section below before 5:00PM Eastern Time on Friday. One point for every top five movie correctly named, two points for every correct placement, and one extra point for the top movie.