The Vow proved love is still in the air at the North American box office this President’s Day weekend as it beat out Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Safe House, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island and This Means War on Friday.
Though The Vow dropped 52 percent from its opening Friday a week ago, its $7.4 million take this Friday was enough for first place – again – and puts it just shy of $70 million through only 8 days in cinemas. Interest in The Vow will dissipate the further away Valentine’s Day falls, but it has a legitimate chance of roaring past the $100 million mark.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance starring Nicholas Cage was considered a favorite for first this weekend but landed in second with $7 million. That may seem like a “hot” start, but the original Ghost Rider revved up $15.4 million on its opening day.
Safe House stole third place with $6.5 million and now stands at $61 million through its first eight days. Like The Vow, it stands a strong chance of easily clearing the $100 million mark for Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds.
Fourth place went to This Means War with $5.6 million, ahead of expectations, while Journey 2: The Mysterious Island explored fifth place with $4.7 million. Both films will be fighting tooth and nail to top $20 million through the four-day holiday weekend.
Studio Ghibli’s latest The Secret World of Arrietty found itself in ninth place with $1.7 million, ahead of the previous animated film from the studio, Ponyo which earned $1.2 million in its first 24-hour period of release.
Be on the lookout for our three-day box office report tomorrow afternoon which could very well see The Vow cough up its current first place position.
