"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.