Family, inspirational films top Hollywood’s box office weekend
A family animated movie and two inspirational films took the top three spots at the U.S. box office over the weekend.
Disney’s animated film ‘The Princess and the Frog’ was number one, earning $25 million in its first weekend of wide release. “Princess” is Disney’s first hand-drawn film since 2004. The animated musical turns the tables of the traditional fairy tale of princess-turns-frog-into prince-with-a-kiss. Instead a young working woman in 1920s New Orleans must rush to break a spell which turns her into an amphibian when she kisses a spellbound prince.
“The Blind Side,” in its fourth week, was in second place with $15.5 million. The film tells the real-life story of a woman whose family takes in a young man from a broken home, guiding and encouraging him to discover his potential as a star football player.
Coming in third is “Invictus,” making its debut with a $9.1 million over the weekend. The film is a dramatization of a president’s bid to unite his racially divided nation through sport. The President is South Africa’s former political prisoner Nelson Mandela and the sport involves his nation’s underdog Rugby team which is reaching for an unthinkable 1995 World Championship.
Rounding out the top five is “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” at $8 million and “A Christmas Carol” with $6.9 million.