"Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" won the box office beating out its fellow contenders "Movie 43" and "Parker."
The Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arteron starrer "Hansel and Gretel" claimed the box office with $19 million. The film was panned by critics but had a modest weekend with an audience made up of 55 percent male. Fifty-seven percent of the viewers were 25-years or older. "Witch Hunters" also benefited from its 3D showings which accounted for 66 percent of its gross. The film is expected to make $50 million by the end of its run.
In second place, Jessica Chatain's "Mama" fell 55 percent and grossed $12.9 million for a total lifetime intake of $48.6 million. The film is on pace to become the highest grossing horror movie in over a year.
The third place honor went to the Academy Award nominated "Silver Linings Playbook." The Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper starrer made $10 million; only a seven percent drop from last weekend. The film's total cumulative gross now stands at $69.5 million and is expected to hit the $100 million mark by the end of the Oscar season.
"Zero Dark Thirty" continued its solid business scoring $9.8 million. However, the buzz seems to have evaporated as it has now scored $69.9 million and seems like it will end up below the projected $100 million.
In fifth place, the newly release "Parker" scored a disappointing $7 million. The film scored worse than Jason Statham's last feature, "Safe," which opened with $7.9 million. With little enthusiasm, the film may end up making short of $20 million by the end of its run.
The other new release "Movie 43" also bombed and took in just $5 million. Fifty-nine percent of audience members were under 35 years of age and 51 percent were male. The film, which stars an ensemble of A-list actors including Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Emma Stone and Hailee Berry, failed to generate any interest and is unlikely to cross the $10 million mark.
In the specialty market "Amour" led the way grossing $481,000. The Oscar nominated film has now made $1.8 million and should continue to generate word of mouth as awards season continues.