"CONTRABAND" DELIVERS THE GOODS AT THE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Contraband

No real surprise that Universal Pictures takes the top of the Box Office with their Action flick Contraband, starring Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale, with a total of $25 million from 2,863 theatres.  Call it a comeback for Beckinsale who hasn't seen the top of the Box Office since 2006 with Adam Sandler Comedy, Click.

Landing in second is Disney's new and improved Beauty and the Beast 3-D, showing in 2,625 theatres with $18.5 million earned in its debut, just ahead of another Musical in Joyful Noise starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah with $12.3 million.

Still going strong in fourth is Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol with $12.1 million from 3,346 theatres in its fifth week of release, edging-out last week's champion The Devil Inside in fifth spot with $7.5 million. Both are from Paramount Pictures.

SCATHING REVIEWS FAIL TO DETER MOVIEGOERS FROM "THE DEVIL INSIDE"

Still from The Devil Inside

Paramount Pictures scores big again this weekend at the Box Office, taking the top spot with low-budget Exorcism Horror, The Devil Inside. The Film with a relatively unknown Cast, takes in $35 million in its debut from 2,285 theatres on a weekend short on new releases. Reviews however haven't been quite as stellar for it, receiving 7% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and an "F" on CinemaScore. 

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, also from Paramount Pictures, continues to perform strongly in its fourth week of release with $18 million, a total of $161.9 million domestically, landing just ahead of its biggest nemesis, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows with $13.7 million. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo brings in $11.3 million in its third week for Sony Pictures in fourth spot.  Thus far, it is earned a decent $76.3 million domestically, edging out DreamWorks' War Horse in fifth spot with $8.5 million in this its third week of release.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy edges its way up to eighth spot for Focus Features with $5.8 million in its fifth week of release, now expanding to 809 theatres. Gary Oldman seems to be getting the must buzz for his performance here, possibly his first-ever Oscar nomination.

New Year's Eve rounds out the top ten this week for Warner Bros. with $3.2 million in its fifth week, a total of $52.3 million domestically.

"MI4" ON-TOP AGAIN: MOVIEGOERS CHOOSE FIREWORKS ON NEW YEAR'S WEEKEND

Still from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Moviegoers wants fireworks and explosions this New Year's Eve weekend at the Box Office, choosing Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol first with $31.2 million for Paramount Pictures. The fourth installment in the Franchise also was number one last weekend, now bringing in $134 million in three weeks of release. In fact, the Top Three currently is identical to last weekend - all sequels on-top.

In second again is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows with $22 million also in its third week out, now earning $132 million domestically for Warner Bros., ahead of Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked with $18.2 million, a three-week total of $94.6 million.

DreamWorks' War Horse is faring well in fourth spot with $16.9 million in its second week, a two-week total of $42.9 million, well on its way to making back its $70 million in production costs. It has only thus far had a small opening Overseas and will continue to expand in coming weeks.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is showing some glimmer of hope in fifth spot in its second week earning $16.3 million, a total of $57.1 million thus far. The American Adaptation by David Fincher of the Swedish phenomenon, was made for $90 million by Sony Pictures.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: "MI4" TAKES TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND

Still from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol as expected, takes the top of the Box Office over Christmas Weekend with $26.5 million, earning $58 million in two weeks.  Its limited opening last week was exclusive to IMAX theatres. Overseas it has fared even better, earning $102 already since its release, for Paramount Pictures. The Film made for $145 million, already has recouped its Production costs quickly.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows slips to second spot this weekend with $17.8 million and despite faring stronger than Mission Impossible stateside, internationally it has made only $14.6 million thus far.  It will continue to expand in coming weeks for Warner Bros. overseas.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked slips to third spot this weekend with $13.3 million for 20th Century Fox, earning $50.2 million in two weeks domestically - not shabby at all considering internationally, it has garnered $91 million already; it was made for $75 million.

"SHERLOCK HOLMES" NO MYSTERY AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shaows

As expected, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, a sequel in the Franchise, not so mysteriously debuts on-top with $40 million at the Box Office. Of course, this isn't quite as strong as its 2009 opening with $62.3 million but that had the benefit of opening on Christmas Day for Warner Bros.

Opening in second is Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked with $23.5 million for 20th Century Fox, again distantly trailing its Franchise predecessor from 2009 which earned $48.8 million. The lack of Family Comedies over the next bit fares well for this one.

Paramount Pictures' Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, filmed partly in Vancouver, has a strong limited opening, showing only in IMAX at 425 theatres with $13.3 million but as pointed out by Nikki Finke at Deadline, this was boosted much by its Thursday night opening and the help of a much-hyped six-minute Warner Bros.' Dark Knight Rises Preview beforehand, which unfortunately that Studio wasn't able to secure with its own Sherlock Holmes.  Also, the increased Ticket Prices for IMAX Movies (approximately $4 more than a Regular Ticket), also inflates its opening numbers somewhat.

New Year's Eve, the Star-spangled Rom-Com slips to fourth spot with $7.4 million for Warner Bros. after a tepid debut last weekend, again ahead of The Sitter in fifth with $4.4 million.

Young Adult from Paramount Pictures, from the same team which brought us Juno, debuts in 986 theatres with $3.5 million, while The Descendants is going strong still in only 878 theatres with $3.5 million.  To-date, the George Clooney Oscar Vehicle has brought-in $28 million, but on a side note, it was made for about $20 million which is rather expensive for an Indie Film.