BOX OFFICE REPORT (FEB. 22-24): 'Identity Thief' Trumps 'Snitch' Over a Weak Weekend

It was a pretty weak weekend at the box office, with Identity Thief reclaiming the top spot. Snitch was the best-performing new release but could only muster $13 million for a second-place debut. Despite it being Oscar weekend, the top five didn't welcome any Best Picture nominees. Silver Linings Playbook did remain strong in wide release, bringing in $6.05 million, only a roughly three percent drop from last weekend. With Silver Linings Playbook passing the $100 million mark, six of the nine Best Picture nominees have now achieved that feat. Zero Dark Thirty is close at $91.56 million.

1. Identity Thief (2)
$14.06 million ($93.67 million)
Identity Thief jumping back up to the No. 1 spot says more about the shoddy weekend than it does this movie. As I mentioned previously, I thought Identity Thief was funny, but Melissa McCarthy could be doing much better than jokes about her weight or appeance.

2. Snitch (N)

$13.00 million ($13.00 million)

Snitch? Surprisingly not bad. It's hard to declare something as The Rock's best performance while keeping a straight face, but this probably was his best outing as an actor. It may be hyperbole, but I'm declaring Snitch a thousand times better than The Rock's role in The Mummy Returns.

3. Escape from Planet Earth (4)

$11.01 million ($30.26 million)
Stop giving movies like this your money. Please.

4. Safe Haven (3)

$10.60 million ($48.06 million)
Nicholas Sparks fans, how could you let Safe Haven fall to No. 4? I'm sure some of you still haven't seen this movie a third time.

5. A Good Day to Die Hard (1)

$10.00 million ($51.80 million)

Yikes. Has the Die Hard franchise finally done exactly that?

Next week's predictions:

1. Jack the Giant Slayer

2. 21 and Over

3. Identity Thief

4. Snitch

5. Safe Haven

SOURCE: Box Office Mojo