Friday box office saw Screen Gems' sci-fi actioner Resident Evil: Retribution ignite a dying chart with a solid $8.4 million gross, while Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master managed a big per theater average to start its run. Thomas W.S. Anderson's Retribution starring Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez and Oded Fehr, opened in 3,012 theaters and should cross $23 million come weekend estimates. Pic has a $65 million production budget.
In second, Disney Pixar's Finding Nemo 3D re-issue pulled in $5 million and should post high teen figures at the end of the weekend.
Third-placed Lionsgate horror The Possession horror added $1.8 million on its third weekend trial, with a cast headed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Natasha Calis, Matisyahu and Kyra Sedgwick. Pic has done solid coin considering a $14 million budget, and has turned in over $49.2 million worldwide.
In fourth place, Lawless made $1.35 million on its third weekend run while CBS Films' The Words starring Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Zoe Saldana and Dennis Quaid, posted $930,000 for fifth place.
As anticipated, The Master from There Will Be Blood's Anderson, was most impressive considering its mere 5 theaters, taking in a huge $242,000 Friday gross. Drama stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.