Film News: ‘Underworld: Awakening’ Tops Weekend Box Office

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CHICAGO – In the heat of award season, with critically praised movies getting most of the buzz in Hollywood, it is sometimes easy to forget some of the films currently in theaters. But while the Golden Globes took place last weekend and Academy Award nominations come out in two days, “Underworld: Awakening” was the winner at the weekend box office.

“Underworld Awakening” finished in front of George Lucas’ “Red Tails” with an estimated $25.4 million to “Red Tails” $19.1 million. Kate Beckinsale wasn’t just in the number one film in the country, as “Contraband” (which also stars Mark Wahlberg) came in at number three. “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” and “Haywire” rounded out the top five.

The win for “Underworld Awakening” comes at a time when the box office is seeing a lot of different films making money. While new films are still being released every week, hype and interest from award shows and nominations sends audiences to the theaters to see some of the films that have been receiving award buzz. I would expect to see films like “The Artist,” “The Descendants,” and even “The Help” (which came out in August) making some more money in the coming month when re-releases hit theaters so audiences can see the films before the Academy Awards ceremony.

Will “Underworld Awakening” continue to rule the box office next weekend? The film will have to beat out all the current releases, as well as next week’s new releases of “The Grey” and “One for the Money.”

1. Underworld Awakening– $25.4 million – new
2. Red Tails– $19.1 million – new
3. Contraband – $12.2 million – down 50% — $46.1 million total
4. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close– $10.5 million – new
5. Haywire– $9 million – new
6. Beauty and the Beast 3D – $8.6 million – down 52% — $33.4 million total
7. Joyful Noise— $6.1 million – down 46% — $21.9 million total
8. Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol – $5.5 million – down 53% — $197.3 million total
9. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows– $4.8 million – down 44% — $178.6 million total
10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo– $3.8 million – down 44% — $94.8 million total

By TIM MARTENS Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com