HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Dec 28, 2008–Fox comedy hit “Marley & Me,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, grossed an estimated $51.7 million from 3,480 screens for the four-day holiday weekend after breaking the record for best Christmas Day opener. Three day total (Friday-Saturday) was $37 million, according to Rentrak.

Paramount’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, exceeded expectations in grossing $39 million from 2,988 screens to come in No. 2 for the four days.

Disney’s Adam Sandler comedy “Bedtime Stories” grossed in four days $38.6 million.

Bryan Singer’s Tom Cruise starrer “Valkyrie” made $30 million from 2,711 screens for the four days, and $21.5 million for the three days. Pic placed No. 4.

The only debut that failed was Lionsgate’s “The Spirit,” which grossed $10.4 million from 2,509 runs for the four days and $6.5 million for the three.  

The Jim Carrey comedy  “Yes Man” placed No. 5 for the holiday weekend, grossing  $22.4 million, with a cumulative of $49.6 million.   No. 6 was “Seven Pounds,” which grossed $13.4 million for the four days for a total of $39 million. Pic has fallen short of the record success Smith has enjoyed at the box office.

DreamWorks/Paramount Vantage’s “Revolutionary Road” boasted a boffo per screen average of $62,000 as it opened Friday in three theaters, grossing an estimated $192,000. Film reunites Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio for the first time since “Titanic.”

Miramax’s “Doubt” and Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire” continuing to build strength. “Doubt” came in No. 10 for the three day weekend as it expanded to 1,267 screens in its third weekend, grossing an estimated $7 million, and cumulative of $8.9 million.

“Slumdog” figure is now $19.7 million in its seventh week, grossing an estimated $5.8 million over the four-day holiday weekend.

Warner’s “Gran Torino” also prospered, grossing $3.2 million from 84 locations for a cumulative of $4.3 million in its third weekend.