"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.

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.

"UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING": RUNAWAY WINNER AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Underworld: Awakening 3-D

Underworld: Awakening 3-D is a runaway winner at the Box Office this weekend, earning $25 million from 3,078 theatres for Sony Pictures, meaning that Kate Beckinsale has had two number one Films consecutively - last week, Contraband and now this fourth installment of the Underworld Franchise.

Red Tails defies all expectations, debuting in second spot for 20th Century Fox.  The World War II Film, funded and produced largely by LucasFilm (George Lucas' Production Company), earned $19 million from 2,512 theatres, just ahead of last week's champion, Contraband with $12.3 million in its second week.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close earned $10.2 million in its fifth week of release, now expanding to 2,630 theatres for Warner Bros.  Critics however, haven't been so responsive to this weekend's Top Four, with this one earning the highest score on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes at 49%.

Meanwhile, Steven Soderbergh's Haywire starring Mixed Martial Arts Star Gina Carano, opens in fifth spot with $8.6 million for Relativity Media garnering strong reviews at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, just marginally ahead of Disney's Beauty and the Beast 3-D in its second week with $8.3 million.

The Iron Lady earns $3.7 million from 1,076 theatres in its second week of expansion.  Overseas it is faring rather well, bringing in $19.5 million already there.

KATE BECKINSALE: QUEEN OF THE BOX OFFICE

Still from Underworld: Awakening 3-D

Call it a Kateback.  Kate Beckinsale officially is the Queen of the Box Office, poised to make it two consecutive weekends on-top with two different Movies, Contraband last weekend and Underworld: Awakening 3-D this weekend. Based on last night's receipts tally, Underworld: Awakening 3-D brought in an impressive $9.4 million making it a clear Winner.  Note though that it is screening in 3-D which somewhat inflates its total.

Although originally thought to take the lead, Red Tails, starring Beckinsale's Pearl Harbor Co-star Cuba Gooding Jr., settles for second with an estimated $6.02 million.

The reign isn't set to fizzle any time soon as another Sony Pictures Monster in Total Recall, is set to hit the theatres August 3, 2012. She also plays the lead in two upcoming releases set to begin production, The Trials of Cate McCullough and Happy Holidays, Katherine Sloane.

Get it, Kate!

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures)

KATE BECKINSALE IN TORONTO FOR "TOTAL RECALL"

Kate Beckinsale & Mr. Will-W.

One of my favourite Actresses undoubtedly is Kate Beckinsale and although she's been in the City for the Toronto International Film Festival in the past promoting titles like Underworld and Nothing but the Truth, unfortunately I'd never had a chance to meet her.  Arriving last month for her Husband Len Wiseman's Total Recall Reboot in which she plays the role of Lori (married to Colin Farrell's Doug), the beautiful Beckinsale has been spotted out and about by Fans and Paparazzi alike. Because I still hadn't seen her, I was beginning to think she was somewhat of a Mirage.

I had spotted Beckinsale on a stroll with her Daughter Lily, Husband Len, another young Lady and their two Dogs Ingrid and Pocket.  The latter even has been spotted on-Set with her.  Careful not to be intrusive, I had asked if on her way back she could take a minute to chat and take a Photo with me and absolutely she fulfilled her promise! 

Upon finally meeting her, I confessed  what a great Fan I am of 2008's Nothing but the Truth.  Despite few people seeing that Film, her portrayal of a Journalist who had taken her integrity to the extreme affected me deeply.  "Yes, it's a shame that it never really made it to the theatres as I was proud of that one", she admits.  I commented also how overall I thought Doug Liman's 2010 Film Fair Game (inspired also by the story of shamed Spy Valerie Plame) paled in comparison and she was touched genuinely, saying "Yes, we thought the same!".

She, Lily (daughter of Michael Sheen) and one Young Lady visiting also noticed that I had brought my Dog Billy out for a walk and the three of them were rather smitten by him.  Beckinsale asked, "Is he a Shih Tzu? and she absolutely was correct!  Their Dogs Pocket and Ingrid - both Female - were so adorably sweet, jumping on my leg.  And the two young Ladies present were so sweet wishing me a good night before they head off after our Chat.