HOPKINS TOPS BOX OFFICE FOR FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS WITH "THE RITE"

Still from The Rite

In a tepid weekend at the Box Office, Exorcism-themed Thriller The Rite finds itself on top with $15 million from 2,985 screens. Starring The Tudors' Colin O'Donoguhe and veteran Anthony Hopkins, this marks the first time a Hopkins Film has topped the Box Office since 2002's Red Dragon.  Read my review of The Rite here.

Last week's champion No Strings Attached slips one spot to second with $13.6 million this weekend, the second week in a row Natalie Portman has two films in the Top Ten. Portman's Fox Searchlight Oscar vehicle, Black Swan, accounts for the eighth spot with $5.1 million as it closes in on the $100 million mark domestically. Well done.

Action Hunk Jason Statham's The Mechanic accounts for third spot with $11.5 million for recently-launched CBS Films. The Film has received mixed reviews overall, with 48% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

The Green Hornet 3-D drops to fourth spot in its third week with $11.5 million, bringing its tally to $78 million domestically. Worldwide it has made about $115 million to-date, just shy of recovering its $120 million budget for Sony Pictures.

The King's Speech jumps to fifth spot $11.1 million as it expands to 2,557 theatres for The Weinstein Co. Its chances of winning Best Picture at the Oscars at the end of the month have been foreshadowed further by a win at last night's Director's Guild Awards,  an telling precursor to that coveted prize. Worldwide it has brought in $121.9 million - it was made for only $15 million.

True Grit, considered a strong contender for Best Picture, lands in sixth spot in its sixth week in theatres with $7.6 million. The Fighter, which like True Grit is also from Paramount Pictures, benefiting from the Oscars push, placing ninth with $4 million.

Outside of the Top Ten is Fox Searchlight's 127 Hours which expanded to 916 theatres this weekend. The six-time Oscar nominated Film starring James Franco as amputated Mountain Climber Aron Ralston, lands in 14th spot with $2 million. Expect it to appear in the Top Ten next week possibly.