"THE VOW" DEBUTS #1 AT BOX OFFICE: RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND HEADLINED BY CANADIANS

Still from The Vow

Lovers and Movie Lovers alike united at the Box Office this weekend, with not one - but four - films opening to huge numbers. This marks the first time four opening releases have opened with numbers exceeding the $20 million mark. Overall, receipts for the Top Ten are expected to tally in-excess of $169 million, which is a 25% increase over last year's numbers according to Deadline. What makes it even more special is that the Top Three Films all have strong Canadian connections.

Debuting at the top of the pack though is Sony Pictures' Romantic-Drama The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, with an impressive $41 million from 2,958 theatres. Of McAdams' last five Films, three have now debuted at the top including her work in the Sherlock Holmes Franchise. She filmed this latest chart-topper in Toronto, where she still currently resides.

Following closely in second is Safe House, starring Denzel Washington and Canada's Ryan Reynolds with great $39 million opening for Universal Pictures, opening in 3,119 theatres, just ahead of yet another Film with Canadian connections, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3-D from Warner Bros.  The Adventure/Fantasy was directed by Brad Peyton of Gander, Newfoundland and earns a stellar $27 million domestically. Overseas, it already has made $41.5 million.

Star Wars Fans showed their support for the 3-D re-release of Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, taking-in $23 million for 20th Century Fox - enough to land it in fourth spot. While another release from the Company, Chronicle slips to fifth after opening in the number one spot last weekend with $12 million.

The Woman in Black in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $10.4 million, although it has yet to open overseas where it should perform well.   Meanwhile, The Descendants is still going strong in ninth spot with $3.4 million for Fox Searchlight - now in its 13th week of release.  Former champ, Underworld: Awakening 3-D rounds out the Top Ten with $2.5 million.

"CHRONICLE" GRABS SPOTLIGHT FROM "THE WOMAN IN BLACK"

Still from Chronicle

In an unexpectedly tight battle, 20th Century Fox lands on-top of the Box Office with their sleeper hit Chronicle. The Sci-Fi from 26-year-old Director Josh Trank is about three Friends who discover superpowers, only the find themselves growing more distant as a result of this.  It opens with $22.2 million from 2,907 theatres.

A v. close second is Daniel Radcliffe's first self-headlining Film outside the Harry Potter franchise, The Woman in Black. The Horror opened in 52 less theatres than Chronicle, getting edged-out ever so slightly for CBS Films, with $21.5 million. Both Top Two Films have opened to positive reviews overall, the former standing a 82% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, while the latter earned a 62%.

Last week's champion The Grey slips to third spot with $9.8 million, now earning an impressive $35 million total, ahead of debuting Action/Adventure flick Big Miracle starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski with $8.5 million in fourth.

Underworld: Awakening drops to fifth spot with $5.8 million, earning a total $54.6 million in three weeks for Sony Pictures, which is expected to take it all next weekend with The Vow starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams.

Meanwhile, in its twelfth week of release, Fox Searchlight's The Descendants is still in the Top Ten with $4.5 million this weekend. To-date, it has pulled in an impressive $65.3 million.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close also is showing some incredible staying power, rounding out the Top Ten with $3.8 million, for Warner Bros.

LIAM NEESON TAKES TOP OF BOX OFFICE WITH THIRD MOVIE IN-A-ROW

Still from The Grey

Liam Neeson finds himself atop the North American Box Office yet again, proving that older Men too can draw a crowd at the theatres. In fact, five of his last nine films to be released since 2010 have all debuted in the Top Two including his last three, The Chronicles of Naria: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Unknown and now this $25-million Action-Thriller The Grey earning $20 million from 3,185 theatres in its debut.

Underworld: Awakening which topped the Box Office last weekend, slips to second spot this weekend with $12.5 million, aheead of One for the Money, an Adaptation of the Janet Evanovich novel, opening in third with $11.8 million for Lionsgate Films from 2,737 theatres. Starring Katherine Heigl, the Action-Comedy was made for $42 million and fared well among older Women. Ticket sales also were driven by a partnership with Groupon in the U.S., offering tickets for just $6 and $12 for a pair of tickets, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Last week's runner-up Red Tails slips to third with $10.4 million.

Man on a Ledge from Summit Entertainment (recently acquired by Lionsgate Films in the U.S.), debuts in fifth spot with $8.3 million. The Action-Thriller starring Sam Worthington, edges-out Best Picture nominees Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close in sixth spot earning $7 million and also The Descendants in seventh with $5.7 million; both received a boost with Oscar nominations being announced last week.

FEW SURPRISES AT GOLDEN GLOBES: "THE ARTIST" & "THE DESCENDANTS" HEAD-TO-HEAD TO WIN OSCAR

Michelle Williams Backstage at 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards went down earlier this evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles and there were few surprises to be found with Oscars Frontrunner The Artist winning Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and its closest competitor The Descendants winning Best Motion Picture Drama.

The Artist also won for Best Original Motion Picture Score (Ludovic Bource) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical (Jean Dujardin), while The Descendants won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama (George Clooney). Clooney upon accepting his award told fellow Nominee Michael Fassbender, "Thanks for taking over the frontal nudity clause" - referring to that one's daring performance in Shame. "If you want to go play Golf with your hands behind your back, go right ahead!".

Michelle Williams won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical for her outstanding portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, while current Oscar favourite for Best Actress, the formidable Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama - her eighth Golden Globe. A humble Streep made note of some additional performances she felt were of note this year among her Peers, including Adepero Oduye's work in Pariah and Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre.  "In any other year they would be awarded", she told the audience.

Modern Family won Best Television Comedy or Musical for a third consecutive year, while Showtime's Homeland won two awards for Best Television Drama and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Drama (Clare Danes).

"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.

"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.

THE DESCENDANTS - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Descendants

Director/Writer Alexander Payne does it again with The Descendants, taking a bit of a break after wowing us hard with 2004's Sideways.  Set in Hawaii, the Dramedy centers around Land Baron Matt (George Clooney) whose Wife is injured severely after a boating accident.  After having been estranged from his Daughters Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and Scotty (Amara Miller) while absorbed in work, he is forced to reunite with them.  Along the way, he learns that his Wife had been having an Affair and above this, he must make an important decision about selling a plot of inherited Land which potentially could make him and his Family wealthy.

Clooney really can do no wrong and after our hopes were raised (and sunken) with self-directed The Ides of March, we truly get to see him shine here in a meaty role which has him working every dramatic muscle possible.  Matt experiences a diverse mix of emotions here and Clooney soars as we see him fluctuate between sorrow, rage, jealousy and uncertainty. He takes us on a real Journey and through it all there is no doubt that we feel we've grown with him and this ultimately is what makes The Descendants truly rewarding.

Woodley delivers a Breakthrough Performance as the rebellious and level-headed Alexandra and I sense great things to come for this promising young Actress.  Although seen too little, Judy Greer as Julie is an absolute delight, delivering just the right amount of vulnerability and comedic sensibility to remind us this Film is signature Payne.

Fox Searchlight Canada's The Descendants is now in theatres and it definitely is one of the year's best.  Expect Clooney and Payne both to be a real force come Awards season.

"NEW YEAR'S EVE" IS TOAST OF THE BOX OFFICE ON TEPID WEEKEND

Still from New Year's Eve

On a weak weekend at the Box Office, Warner Bros.' New Year's Eve takes the top spot with only $13.7million, a far cry from Director Garry Marshall's last Effort Valentine's Day, which brought-in $56 million in its debut back in 2010. The Rom-Com with an All-star Cast overall has been panned by Critics, but likely will have an impact into the Holidays and currently it is showing at 3,505 theatres in North America.

20th Century Fox's The Sitter starring Jonah Hill debuts in second this weekend with $10 million, also opening to negative reviews overall, although it didn't cost nearly as much to make as New Year's Eve.  Finally knocked-out of top spot is The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 with $8 million this weekend, accounting for a North American total of $259 million in four weeks of release.

Disney's The Muppets is still going steady in fourth spot with $7.2 million in its third week.  In total it has earned $65.7 million, earning back already its $45 in Production costs.  Paramount Pictures' Hugo 3-D meanwhile is in sixth spot with $6 million, expanding to 2,608 theatres.

The Descendants continues to impress in seventh spot for Fox Searchlight, bringing in $4.3 million, showing in 876 theatres only and a total of $23.5 million in three weeks.  Universal Pictures' Tower Heist rounds out the Top Ten with $2.5 million in its sixth week of release.

"TWILIGHT" BLINDS THE COMPETITION: "MUPPETS" SECOND AT BOX OFFICE ON U.S. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

Still from Breaking Dawn Pt. 1

No real surprises here. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 holds-on to the top spot at the Box Office again in this its second week of release.  The Vampire Romance brought in $62.3 million over a five-day U.S. Thanksgiving Weekend for Summit Entertainment/eOne Films in North America.

Disney's The Muppets on any other weekend would've been on-top but by no means is it a disgrace to debut in second on a competitive weekend with $42 million. Praise has been unanimous for the revival of the Jim Henson Franchise, earning 98% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Happy Feet Two earns $18 million over the five-day weekend for Warner Bros. slipping to third spot in its second week of release, just ahead of Arthur Christmas for Sony Pictures, with $16.5 million.  The latter also has garnered lots of praise with a 98% rating on the Tomatometer.

Hugo would boast much higher numbers for Paramount Pictures, but the Martin Scorcese Family Movie opted to open only in 3-D, hence debuting with $15 million from 1,227 theatres.

Rounding out the Top Ten is The Descendants for Fox Searchlight, which still is performing exceedingly well in only 390 theatres with $9 million over the five-day weekend.

"BREAKING DAWN PT. 1" IS SECOND-HIGHEST OPENING FOR "TWILIGHT"

Still from Breaking Dawn Pt. 1

As you can see, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 was an epic failure at the Box Office this weekend.  Hardly anyone saw it.  LOL Just kidding. This latest installment tallied $139.5 million, the Twilight Franchise's second-highest opening weekend ever right behind 2009's A New Moon, which opened with $142.8 million. Early numbers projected that it would bring-in upwards of $140 million but nonetheless, this is highly impressive and $72 million of that alone came from its opening day. Internationally, it fared amazingly well with $283.5 million.

Happy Feet 2 opened this weekend with $22 million for Warner Bros. which by all means is good, but still far off the mark of the $41.5 million its predecessor made back in 2006.  It was an ambitious task opening the same weekend as Breaking Dawn Pt. 1, as much of that Female audience's (including Moms) attentions were spent there.

Immortals continues to do well in third this weekend with $12.3 million in its second week of release, just ahead of horrendously-reviewed Adam Sandler-in-drag fare Jack and Jill with $12 million.

Puss in Boots finds itself in fifth spot this weekend with $10.7 million, to-date earning $122.3 million.  J. Edgar in its second week slips to seventh spot with $5.9 million, uncharacteristically weak for a Film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

At the bottom of the Top Ten is The Descendants starring George Clooney, which appears to be garnering him lots of Oscars Best Actor and Best Picture buzz.  It sets a record for highest grossing Film from fewest number of Theatres, earning $1.2 million from just 29 screens.

ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO A TORONTO ADVANCE SCREENING OF "THE DESCENDANTS"

Official Artwork for The Descendants

Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven & Fox Searchlight Canada want to give ten lucky Readers Double Passes to see a Toronto Advance Screening of Alexander Payne’s The Descendants starring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley in her big breakout role. Be among the first to see this latest effort from the same Director of Sideways after it won raves in its rounds at TIFF 2011.

The Descendants centers around a Land Baron (Clooney) tries to re-connect with his two daughters Alexandra (Woodley) and Scottie (Amara King) after his Wife suffers a boating accident.

The Screening takes place Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM, Varsity Cinemas in Manulife Centre. To qualify for the win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook by November 14, 2011. Good luck, Mavenati!

Watch the Trailer in full below:

SHAILENE WOODLEY AT TIFF FOR "THE DESCENDANTS"

Shailene Woodley in Toronto - September 2011

Although many of you might recognize her from the hit TV series The Secret Life of an American Teenager, Shailene Woodley is poised to become one of 2011's biggest breakout Stars.  The 19 year-old is garnering some feverish buzz for her performance alongside George Clooney as his Daughter in The Descendants which premieres at TIFF at VISA Screening Room on Saturday.

The beautiful Actress giggled, "Gosh! I don't even have any make-up one!" before posing for the Paparazzi and signing a copious amount of Autographs.  I managed to snag one for you, Mavenati!  Stay tuned on how you can win one!

See more Photos below:

CONFIRMED TIFF 2011 TITLES

Still from Moneyball

So the first TIFF 2011 Press Conference was held at 10:00 AM today with various Galas and marquee titles announced.  Although weekly announcements still are to come over the next month, here are some of the more buzzed Movies we will be seeing in Toronto come September:

Trishna – directed by Michael Winterbottom – The tragic love story of a Property Developer’s Son and an Auto Rickshaw Owner’s Daughter; stars Freida Pinto.

The Lady – Luc Besson’s Biopic about pro-Democracy Activist Aung San Suu Kyi played by Michelle Yeoh, who was blacklisted in Burma after filming this one

W.E. – Madonna’s directorial debut. A film which criss-crosses a modern day love story with the romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

GEORGE CLOONEY POSSIBLY COMING TO TORONTO WITH "THE IDES OF MARCH" AND "THE DESCENDANTS"?

George Clooney at TIFF 2009

Although we missed George Clooney at TIFF 2010, something tells me we'll be getting him back this September here in Toronto!  With two hotly-tipped performances to promote, Clooney looks once again to be in Best Actor contention for the Oscars.  He has two Films coming out later this year, The Descendants and The Ides of March. The former has him as a Man trying to reconnect with his two Daughters after his Wife suffers a boating accident.  Directed by Sandra Oh's Ex Alexander Payne who brought us the brilliant Sideways, this also looks to be the big breakout role we've all been hoping for in Judy Greer who plays Elizabeth, his adulterous Wife in a Coma; Fox Searchlight releases.

The Ides of March looks to be a Best Picture contender with Clooney starring as a Man on the Presidential trail. Ryan Gosling playing a young Man who plays an integral part to the campaign, learning quickly all the corrupt things which go on behind-the-scenes.  Gosling told Extra recently that Clooney is quite the Prankster, having sprayed his pants with an Evian Spray Bottle without even realizing it happened until the Silver Fox walked away. 

Our Friends at Alliance Films in Canada still have no word on whether the Film will be premiering here, but we're crossing fingers and thinking it's likely a go!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)