American cinema audiences were clearly looking to get a head start on Valentine’s Day this weekend, as the country fell for Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams in The Vow. The based-on-a-true-story weepy took in a very healthy $41.7 million to launch ahead of fellow new arrivals Safe House and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.
The Denzel Washington/Ryan Reynolds thriller landed solidly in second, earning $39.3 million, while the Journey sequel proved that there are some franchises even The Rock can’t quite boost. Still, the fantasy adventure made a decent $27.5 million.
Fourth place went to the 3D re-release of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, with an additional $23 million headed into George Lucas’ already-overflowing pockets. Despite healthy word of mouth, Chronicle faltered a little, dropping from its first place launch to fifth with $12.3 million, though that means it has now earned $40 million in the US alone, which is a fine result considering it was made for around $12 million.
The Woman In Black also took a hit from the new arrivals, falling to sixth and $10.3 million. The Grey was seventh with $5 million and whale pic Big Miracle slipped to eighth with $3.9 million. The Descendants continued to hold decently off the back of its Oscar nominations, taking in $3.5 million at ninth and Underworld: Awakening rounded out the top 10 with $2.5 million.
To deal with your true love’s coma-spawned chart amnesia, head on over to Box Office Mojo.