Taken scores box office touchdown
Fox's action pic wins Super Bowl weekend
By Pamela McClintock of Variety -- Video Business, 2/2/2009
FEB. 2 | VARIETY BOX-OFFICE REPORT: 20th Century Fox’s Liam Neeson action-thriller Taken scored a touchdown at the domestic box office, proving that male-driven pics can open successfully on Super Bowl weekend.Taken grossed an estimated $24.6 million from 3,183 runs, making it the second-best Super Bowl opener of all time, after last year’s tween girl hit Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour ($31.1 million), according to Rentrak.
Studios have long steered clear of debuting testosterone-heavy titles in this slot because of the steep drop in theater traffic on Sunday, preferring to roll out horror titles and romantic comedies, two female-driven genres.
To wit, Paramount and DreamWorks’ horror entry The Uninvited opened to an estimated $10.5 million from 2,344 runs to place No. 3 for the weekend. But Lionsgate’s Renee Zellweger-Harry Connick Jr. starrer New in Town managed only No. 8, with an estimated $6.8 million from 1,941.
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