Action fans came out in large numbers Friday to watch the Universal Pictures release SAFE HOUSE, director Daniel Espinosa’s spy thriller starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds.
According to the latest theater reports, Universal estimated close to $15 million in Friday earnings from 3,118 theaters.
Box office pundits predicted a strong weekend with the Screen Gems romance The Vow, featuring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, earning an estimated $12.5 million in Friday ticket sales from 2,958 cinemas.
Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace returned to 2,655 cinemas as a 3D release and earned an impressive $10 million Friday for 20th Century Fox. The Warner Bros. family adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island looked to be the weakest of the four new releases with an estimated $4.5 million from 3,470 venues.
Pundits predicted 20th Century Fox's Chronicle, a modestly budgeted mix of the superhero and found footage genres, about three teens who end up with telekinetic powers, to lead all holdovers with an estimated $11 million for the weekend.
Look for additional box office estimates tomorrow.