In this image released by Columbia Pictures, Richard T. Jones, left, and Dennis Quaid are shown in a scene from Columbia Pictures' 'Vantage Point'. [Agencies]
The political thriller "Vantage Point" secured the top spot at the weekend box office, earning an estimated US$24 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The previous No. 1 movie, 20th Century Fox's "Jumper," dropped to second with US$12.7 million, raising its domestic total to US$56.2 million in two weeks. Paramount's family fantasy "The Spiderwick Chronicles" was a close third with US$12.6 million. Disney's dance saga "Step Up 2 The Streets" and Warner Bros.' romantic comedy "Fool's Gold" rounded out the top five.
"Vantage Point," a Sony Pictures action-drama about a presidential assassination seen from the viewpoints of different characters, included a star-studded ensemble cast that featured Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox as Secret Service agents.
"Audiences really love it when they get a summer-style popcorn movie at a time of the year when they don't expect it," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers.
The studio said "Vantage Point" appealed to a broad audience — 52 percent of moviegoers were male and half were under age 30.
"It's fresh with lots of twists and turns. Audiences become very invested in it," said Rory Bruer, Sony president of distribution.
The only other new release to crack the top 10 was the Jack Black comedy "Be Kind Rewind," which took in US$4.1 million and was tied at No. 7 with "Juno." The Fox Searchlight pregnancy comedy has rung up US$130 million since opening 12 weeks ago.
Paramount Vantage's oil saga "There Will Be Blood" moved up two slots to No. 10 with US$2.6 million for a total of US$35 million in nine weeks.
The weekend's other two debuts, Lionsgate's "Witless Protection" and MGM's "Charlie Bartlett," came in at No. 13 and 14, respectively.
Box office revenues were down for the second straight week. The top 12 movies grossed US$90 million, down 23 percent from last weekend and 10 percent from the same weekend in 2007.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC.
1 Vantage Point (2008) $22.9M
2 The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) $13.1M
3 Jumper (2008) $12.7M $56.3M
4 Step Up 2 the Streets (2008) $9.61M
5 Fool's Gold (2008) $6.55M
6 Definitely, Maybe (2008) $5.22M
7 Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008) $4.16M
8 Juno (2007) $4.15M
9 Be Kind Rewind (2008) $4.05M
10 There Will Be Blood (2007) $2.69M
(China Daily/Agencies February 26, 2008)