US Box Office: Keanu Reeves, an actor known for his offbeat movie choices, added another unlikely boxoffice hit to his collection on Sunday with “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” a chart-topping remake of a 1951 sci-fi movie.
The film, largely ridiculed by critics, sold an estimated $31 million worth of tickets in the United States and Canada since opening on Friday, distributor 20th Century Fox said.
The three-day sum was in line with forecasts. The film cost about $80 million to make, said the News Corp unit.
It marks Reeves’ biggest opening since 2003′s “The Matrix Revolutions,” the third film in the blockbuster “Matrix” franchise, kicked off with $48 million on its way to $139 million. Since then, he has starred in a series of art-house pictures (2005′s “Thumbsucker”) and middling studio pictures (2006′s “The Lake House”).
Reeves, 44, plays the alien Klaatu, who comes to save Earth from itself. The film co-stars Jennifer Connelly. Scott Derrickson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) directed.
“It’s an environmental as well as a political statement,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s senior vice president of domestic distribution.
“Earth” also earned about $39 million in international markets, Fox said.
After two weeks at No. 1, the holiday comedy “Four Christmases” slipped to No. 2 with $13.3 million, taking its total to $88 million. The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.
Rounding out the top five were the vampire romance “Twilight” at No. 3 with $8.0 million, the canine cartoon “Bolt” at No. 4 with $7.5 million, and the period drama “Australia” with $4.3 million.
“Twilight” was released by Summit Entertainment LLC, which is privately held. “Bolt” was released by Walt Disney Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co. “Australia” was also released by Fox. [thr]
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