Pretending I'm in the UK - Box Office Results for the January 16, 2009 Weekend

I know it's January and that can mean limited releases but I'm shocked that in both Canada and North America the top box office earner for the January 16, 2009 weekend was Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Not because it's a surprize that a comedy tops the chart but for the fact that previous to the Jan 16/09 release date I'd seen no previews, no print ads and no buzz on the film. Bizarre. Continuing with the bizarre is Gran Torino coming in 2nd in both Canada ad North America in it's sixth week. In the T-dot we had 9 new release, 6 of those in wide release and 2nd goes to a 6th weeker. Wow.

Over in the UK Slumdog Millionaire has a booming post 4 wins at the Golden Globes weekend not only hitting #1 in the box office. In fact, Slumdog Millionaire came in first for per screen average pulling in around twice as much as the #2 film: Seven Pounds. The Wrestler has an impressive opening weekend debuting at #8.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the January 16, 2009 weekend
1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop *
2. Gran Torino
3. My Bloody Valentine 3D *
4. Bride Wars
5. Hotel For Dogs *
6. Notorious *
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
8. Defiance *
9. Marley & Me
10. The Unborn
11. Bedtime Stories
12. Slumdog Millionaire
13. Valkyrie
14. Yes Man
15. Last Chance Harvey *
16. Twilight
17. Revolutionary Road
18. The Wrestler
19. The Reader
20. Seven Pounds

Top 20 Movies in North America for the January 16, 2009 weekend
1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop *
2. Gran Torino
3. My Bloody Valentine 3D *
4. Notorious *
5. Hotel For Dogs *
6. Bride Wars
7. The Unborn
8. Defiance
9. Marley & Me
10. Slumdog Millionaire
11. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
12. Bedtime Stories
13. Last Chance Harvey
14. Valkyrie
15. Yes Man
16. Not Easily Broken
17. The Wrestler
18. Revolutionary Road
19. Twilight
20. Doubt

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the January 16, 2009 weekend
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Seven Pounds *
3. Role Models
4. My Bloody Valentine *
5. Bride Wars
6. Beverly Hills Chihuahua *
7. Defiance
8. The Wrestler *
9. Yes Man
10. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

* indicates opening weekend in noted location

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info