Liam Neeson’s Taken 3 nabbed the top spot at the weekend box office with a stellar $40.4 million, according to studio estimates.
20th Century Fox’s third installment in the saga features Neeson as a vengeance-seeking former government agent with “a very particular set of skills.” It brings back stars Maggie Grace and Famke Jackson reprising their roles from the last two films, while Forest Whitaker makes his debut.
“People identify with this Bryan Mills character,” said Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox. “He’s got that caring fatherly element even though he’s also a badass, and that resonates with all audiences.”
Audience members, who were more than 54 percent male and 64 percent over the age of 25, gave the film a B plus CinemaScore, along with positive reviews. Critics, on the other hand, gave Taken 3 a dismal 12 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The original Taken bowed to $24.7 million back in 2009 and concluded with $139 million, while 2012’s Taken 2 finished its premiere weekend with $49.5 million and went on to earn $145 million domestically.
“For Neeson to be at this stage in his career and be considered one of the premier action heroes is certainly unexpected, but it’s really cool and lucrative,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at box-office tracker Rentrak. “I don’t think Neeson expected back in ’09 that ‘Taken’ would take off the way it has. It’s really enhanced his box-office appeal.”
The action thriller pushed down The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies to the fourth spot with $9.4 million following its three straight weeks on top. Peter Jackson’s trilogy finale now stands at $236.5 million domestically, and $545.3 million worldwide.
Arriving in second place is Paramount’s civil rights drama Selma with $11.2 million, slightly less than the $15 million analysts predicted. The biopic, which expanded from 22 to 2,179 theaters over the weekend, follows the historic 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama and stars David Oyelowo as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“There are a combination of factors that set it up for a great run,” said Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore. “This movie has connected, particularly with African-American leaders who want future generations to learn about the great work that Martin Luther King did.”
The film earned an A plus CinemaScore and an outstanding 99 percent “fresh” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Disney’s Into The Woods finished in third place in its third week at the box office with $9.7 million. The Broadway musical adaptation has crossed the $100 million mark this weekend, earning a total of $105.3 million domestically. Rounding out the top five is Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, another holiday holdover with $8.4 million for the weekend box office and a grand total of $101.6 million.
New movies in theaters this week include Bradley Cooper as a lethal sniper (American Sniper), a Peruvian bear who finds a home (Paddington), and Kevin Hart as a groom’s best friend (The Wedding Ringer).
Top 10 Films at Weekend Box Office: January 9-11
- Taken 3 – $40.4 million
- Selma – $11.2 million
- Into the Woods – $9.7 million
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – $9.4 million
- Unbroken – $8.4 million
- The Imitation Game – $7.6 million
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb – $6.7 million
- Annie – $4.9 million
- The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death – $4.8 million
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – $3.7 million
