As predicted, Zero Dark Thirty took the number one spot at the box office. The Academy Award nominated film expanded nationwide following a limited release in selected cities.

The movie earned $24 million in the United States and Canada over the weekend for a four week total of $29.5 million. The drama about the hunt for Taliban leader Osama Bin Laden stars Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, and Mark Strong, and was directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow won best picture with “The Hurt Locker’ in 2009, and hopes to receive the same honor for her follow up film “Zero Dark Thirty”.

“A Haunted House” which is a horror movie spoof, earned the number 2 spot with $18.8 million against it reported production budget of only $2.5 million. The film was co-written by “Scary Movie 2” veteran Marlon Wayans , who also stars in the film. Cedric the Entertainer, J.B. Smoove,  and Adam Sandler makes appearances in the film as well.

Crime drama “Gangster Squad” got the number 3 spot despite it’s A-list cast such as Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone. The film earned $16.7 million in it’s opening weekend. Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” stays in the top five as the number four movie, earning $11 million in its third weekend. The film makes an career-best for Tarantino with $125 million gross. “Django Unchained” received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor for Christopher Waltz.

“Les Miserable” round up the top five with an earning of $10.1 million over the weekend. It’s total earnings are 119.2 million. Anne Hathaway won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Shanika Simmons

The post ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Takes Number One Spot At Box Office appeared first on Entertain Train.

Best Picture Nominee “Zero Dark Thirty” is expected to dominate at the box office this weekend . It is extremely unlikely that newcomers like “Gangster Squad” and “A Haunted House” will have any shot against the highly anticipated film.

The film has already been out on limited release for a few weeks now, and is expected to have a huge boosts in sales thanks to the Oscar nods. “This movie is a lot bigger than New York and L.A,” said Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net. “I think it will be huge once it expands because Sony has done everything right with the marketing, and the controversy has just built awareness and interest across the rest of the country. ”

Exhibitor Relations box office analyst Jeff Bock predicted the film to earn and estimated $25 million domestically over the weekend. It will expand to more than 2,600 theaters. “It will take an army to stop it. When ‘The Hurt Locker’ won Best Picture in 2010, ti was already on DVD and grossed a total of just $17 million, making it one of the lowest grossing Best Picture winners ever.”

Last weekend’s highest earner, “Texas Chainsaw 3D” is expected to suffer a deep decline in its second week. “Gangster Squad” was moved from an earlier release date in the wake of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado to remove a scene that involved a theater shooting. However, the film has a great line up with actors such a Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, and Emma Stone.

Shanika Simmons

The post Oscar Hopeful ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Expected To Dominate Box Office This Weekend appeared first on Entertain Train.