Paramount’s ‘No Strings Attached’, a rom com, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton kutcher, has upstaged The Green Hornet 3D from the week-end box office with an expected collection of $20 million. The Friday collections touched $7 million

The R rated romantic comedy’s performance comes as a surprise as rom coms are more dissed than appreciated nowadays. The critically acclaimed ‘Love and Other Drugs’ with Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllanhaal opened to below $10 million at the box office and exited quietly without causing much ripples.

Ashton Kutcher’s ‘Killers’ with Katherine Heigel also did not have a good showing.

For a movie which cost $25 million and was titled as Fuckbuddies initially, to have such a reception is heartwarming to say the least.

The reasons for its success may have something to do with the fact that it stars Natalie Portman, the darling of the film goers at the moment. Her award winning performance in Black Swan has really raised the interest level and the fact that she got engaged and is expecting also adds to the curiosity factor. No new movies opening this week may also have helped.

Interestingly, Natalie Portman is a producer as well for the movie. Natalie Portman has 5 films ready for release this year counting January

Paramount Pictures did not do much publicity for the movie except going all out in a Faceboook campaign targeting early 20s females. Meanwhile, Sony's The Green Hornet 3D and Universal's Dilemma have dropped down.