Weekend Box Office: 'Taken' Takes Off, 'Paul Blart' and 'The Uninvited' on Its Heels

It's awesome, somehow, that Liam Neeson (along with some nifty marketing, it's true) can open an action movie to the tune of $24.6 million. Maybe it's the fact that Taken's debut at #1 comes after two depressing weeks when Paul Blart: Mall Cop inexplicably dominated the charts (and indeed, Paul Blart continues to rake in big bucks, falling off only 35% to second place). Taken opened in just about every other part of the world in 2008 and has already grossed nearly $70 million worldwide; put this one into the win column for Luc Besson and his production team.

The Uninvited's third-place, $10.5 million bow is a disappointment -- to Dreamworks, but also to me, since I think it's superior to most of the PG-13 horror that's been doing so well lately. (Certainly it kicks The Unborn's ass six ways from Sunday.) I think the advertising was a bit too stately, emphasizing Elizabeth Banks in creepy mode rather than the shock effects that tend to draw the crowds. Not a tragedy for the relatively inexpensive film, but perhaps a missed opportunity.

New in Town was defeated by a beatdown of scathing reviews, a wimpy, girly-man 1900-screen release, and a marketing effort that wasn't up to the task of capitalizing on Renee Zellweger's star power. Zellweger eats $6.75 million for breakfast.

For the first time since January 9th, Slumdog Millionare made less than it did the previous weekend, but it's up to a not-too-shabby $67 million cume. I wouldn't rule out $100 million before it leaves theaters.

The full top 10 after the jump.



1 - Taken (Fox) - $24.63 ($7,736) - $24.63
2 - Paul Blart: Mall Cop (Sony) - $21.50 ($6,838) - $64.80
3 - The Uninvited (Dreamworks) - $10.51 ($4,485) - $10.51
4 - Hotel for Dogs (Dreamworks) - $8.71 ($2,755) - $48.23
5 - Gran Torino (Warner Bros.) - $8.60 ($2,852) - $110.55
6 - Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight) - $7.68 ($4,703) - $67.24
7 - Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (Screen Gems) - $7.20 ($2,447) - $32.78
8 - New in Town (Lionsgate) - $6.75 ($3,478) - $6.75
9 - My Bloody Valentine (Lionsgate) - $4.26 ($3,030) - $44.61
10 - Inkheart (New Line) - $3.70 ($1,394) - $12.79

Next week is a bit of a cluster-something-something, with Henry Selick's Coraline, the sci-fi actioner Push, Steve Martin's The Pink Panther 2, and the high-profile rom-com He's Just Not That Into You going head-to-head on at least 2,000 screens each. And sneaking into 40 locations, at long last, will be Fanboys.