Universal Pictures' comedy "Little Fockers" topped the box office on Christmas weekend, turning in an estimated $34 million from 3,546 theaters. Despite being mauled by critics nationwide, holding a 11% positive rating on RottenTomatoes.com, the Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro comedy averaged $9,620 per theater. Pic is budgeted at $100 million and helmed by Paul Weitz.
Daily gross breakdown for "Little Fockers"
Friday: $5.1 million
Saturday: $14.6 million
Sunday: $14.3 million
In second, the Coen brothers western drama "True Grit" turned in a very solid $25.6 million from 3,047 locations. Thanks to a leading cast of Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper, not to mention an admirable performance from newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, the critically-acclaimed pic drew in an average of $8,402 per venue.
In third, Disney's "TRON: Legacy" showed a 54% change in its sophomore weekend, after topping the charts last week. Joseph Kosinski's panned sci-fi adventure added $20.1 million for an estimated domestic gross of over $88.2 million thus far. Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Sheen star in what has been slammed for bad writing, despite impressive effects.
Fox's "The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader" finished in fourth with $10.8 million in its third weekend trial. So far, the Michael Apted-helmed film has earned $63.9 million on U.S. soil and around $128 million overseas; a worldwide total of just under $193 million.
Ending off the top five films, Warner Bros. "Yogi Bear" puled in $8.8 million in its second week. Total gross is at almost $37 million with a cast including Dan Akroyd, Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris, Tom Cavanagh and Andrew Daly.
Other wide opener found in 20th Century Fox's "Gulliver's Travels" flopped, earning just $7.2 million in seventh place. Jack Black, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt starrer finished behind Paramount Pictures' Oscar hopeful "Fighter" which earned $8.5 million.
In limited venues, Sony's "Country Strong" music drama opened in just two theaters, earning $34,642. Starring in the Shana Feste-directed and written pic are Gwyneth Paltrow, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw and Leighton Meester.