Open Road scores number one US launch for The Grey on $20m

In a light January weekend, Screen Gems’ Underworld: Awakening skipped to number two and has grossed a reasonable $45.1m after two weekends, which puts it roughly on par with the top film of the franchise, Underworld: Evolution which went on to gross $62.3m.

The Katherine Heigl caper One For The Money arrived in third place through Lionsgate on $11.8m while Summit Entertainment’s thriller Man On A Ledge starring Sam Worthington opened in fifth place on $8.3m.

Warner Bros Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close ranks sixth and added $7.1m for $21.1m after six weekends. Fox Searchlight’s The Descendants climbed nine places to number seven in its eleventh weekend, adding $6.6m for an excellent $58.8m. The film has grossed $26.9m internationally, resulting in an $85.7m worldwide tally.

Speaking of global scores, Paramount announced on Sunday that Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol crossed $200m in North America and has earned $571m worldwide, making it the biggest film of the franchise.

The record was held by Mission: Impossible II on $546m worldwide.

Next weekend’s wide releases are ghost story The Woman In Black starring Daniel Radcliffe through CBS Films; Fox’s drama Chronicle; and Universal’s drama Big Miracle with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski.

Estimated Top 10 North America Jan 27-29 2012
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (-) The Grey (Open Road) Inferno $20m –

2 (1) Underworld Awakening (Screen Gems) SPRI $12.5m $45.1m

3 (-) One For The Money (Lionsgate) Lakeshore Int’l & Sierra/Affinity $11.8m –

4 (2) Red Tails (Fox) Fox Int’l $10.4m $33.8m

5 (-) Man On A Ledge (Summit) Summit Int’l $8.3m –

6 (4) Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Warner Bros) WBPI $7.1m $21.1m

7 (16) The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Fox Int’l $6.6m $58.8m

8 (3) Contraband (Universal) UPI $6.5m $56.4m

9 (5) Beauty And The Beast 3D (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $5.3m $41.1m

10 (6) Haywire (Relativity) Lionsgate $4m $15.3m