Weekend Box Office: 'Mission: Impossible' Rules Over Robust Holiday Session

You might be beginning the brand new year having a hangover, however the box office, at least, is lively and robust. 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' easily repeated last week's holiday victory, however the weekend's other holdovers, inside a session with no new wide-release competition, also carried out strongly. The very best 14 movies, and basically three from the top 33 movies, saw their earnings rise over last weekend's takes. The 4th 'Mission: Impossible' is constantly on the conduct business just like a Tom Cruise movie of old, barreling toward a potential $200 million domestic take. Over the past weekend, it resided as much as anticipation and gained another believed $31.3 million (up 6 % from Christmas weekend), for any three-week total of $134.a million. That edges the $134. million domestic total gained by 'Mission: Impossible III' nearly six years back. Actually, this really is Cruise's first film to pass through $100 million locally since that 2006 installment from the franchise. Also consistent with forecasts, 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game Title of Shadows' finished second, by having an believed $22.a million, up 9 % from the other day. Despite a reduced than expected start, it's keeping pace with 'Mission: Impossible,' getting gained $132.a million within the same three days. In third place, 'Alvin and also the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' saw an increase running a business of 45 percent over last week. Kids from school assisted the 'toon earn an believed $18.3 million over New Year's weekend, for any three-week total of $94.six million. 'War Horse' saw the week's greatest boost, vaulting 125 percent over last weekend's earnings. Finishing 4th, Steven Spielberg's equestrian drama also made hay from of family spare time and snapped up another believed $16.9 million. In eight days, the film has gained $43. million. Finishing fifth was 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo,' by having an believed take of $16.3 million, up 28 percent from last week. Such as the three movies above it around the chart, the harsh David Fincher thriller appears to become conquering a sluggish start, supporting well because of strong word-of-mouth. Its two-weekend total is $57.a million. Among limited-release debuts, 'The Iron Lady' did perfectly, generating an believed $222,000 on only for screens, to have an outstanding $55,450 per-screen average. Reviews for that movie itself are extremely-so, but raves are nearly unanimous for Meryl Streep's performance as Margaret Thatcher, which appears determined to generate the actress an unparalleled 17th Oscar nomination. Also succeeding were Iranian drama 'A Separation' (an believed $66,600 on three screens) and African-American lesbian coming-of-age tale 'Pariah' (an believed $49,700 on four screens). Overall, box office was up about 30 % from last week. One of the top 30 coming back films, only 'The Sitter,' 'Arthur Christmas' and 'In the Land of Bloodstream and Honey' saw declines from last weekend's business. Anything else was up, marking a contented finish for an otherwise dismal year in the box office. 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' - Trailer No. 2 The entire top ten: 1. 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,' $31.3 million (3,455 screens), $134.a million total 2. 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game Title of Shadows,' $22.a million (3,703), $132.a million 3. 'Alvin and also the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,' $18.3 million (3,724), $94.six million 4. 'War Equine,' $16.9 million (2,547), $43. million 5. 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattoo,' $16.3 million (2,914), $57.a million 6. 'We Purchased a Zoo,' $14.3 million (3,163), $41.8 million 7. 'The Adventures of Tintin,' $12. million (3,087), $47.8 million 8. 'New Year's Eve,' $6.7 million (2,225), $46.4 million 9. 'The Pitch-dark Hour,' $4.3 million (2,327), $13.two million 10. 'The Descendants,' $3.7 million (758), $39.7 million [Photos: Vital ('Mission: Impossible'), The Weinstein Company ('The Iron Lady')] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman