UK Box Office 1 - 3 February 2013

For the third week in a row the top two spots were filled by the same films. Les Misérables was number one for the fourth successive weekend, falling just 31% to £2.8m and crossing the magic mark of £30m in the process. It now sits on £30.1m and with a way to go yet is laying a strong early claim to be the biggest film of the year. Django Unchained held onto second spot easing 30% to £1.7m and has joined the limited club of 18-cert films to cross the £10m mark. It now sits on £10.3m and may have the legs to beat Pulp Fiction (£12.7m) and become Tarantino’s most successful film.

The highest new entry, landing in third spot was Denzel Washington thriller Flight. A £1.4m debut is a decent start and we’re seeing most awards films holding up very well from week-to-week so expect the same with this one. Proving this theory, Lincoln fell just 17% to £1.4m in fourth spot and after 10 days has grossed a solid £4.2m. Life Of Pi 3D rounded out the top five with yet another strong hold falling 24% to £843k and a magnificent cume of £27.3m.

A couple of other notable performers were Monsters, Inc 3D, which has been quietly performing well over the last three weekends. The 3D re-release now has a cume of £2.2m and with February half term in a couple of weeks there should be a bit more life in it yet. Finally, Sly Stallone actioner Bullet To The Head, made a slow start, opening in ninth spot with just £429k.

Overall the box office was down 22% from last weekend but up 24% from the same weekend last year and that’s now SIXTEEN consecutive weekends that’s been the case.

Across the Atlantic, rom-zom-com Warm Bodies opened with $20m this weekend. As you would expect, the audience was more female (60%) and 65% under the age of 25. Second spot was taken by last week’s winner, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D, which fell 53% to $9.2m and a cume of $34.5m. Oscar hopeful Silver Linings Playbook once again had a strong weekend easing just 14% to $8.1m and a cume of $80.4m. It’s almost certain now that the film will cross the $100m mark. Fourth spot was taken by Mama, which fell 49% to $6.7m and has now grossed $58.3m, which makes it the top horror film in the US since Paranormal Activity 3. Zero Dark Thirty rounded out the Top Five with $5.3m and a cume of $77.8m.