Valentine's Day Film 'The Vow' Tops Box Office

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Monday, February 13, 2012

In theaters this weekend "The Vow" has broken box office records and topped sales earning $41.7 million after its premiere.

Starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, the romantic film hit theaters Friday just as couples started preparing for Valentine's Day.

"The Vow" exceeded expectations with strongest opening so far this year, as well as the best debut of any Screen Gems film, which is owned by Sony.

This Tuesday many people will celebrate Valentine's Day and audiences are clearly ready for a love story. "The Vow" was the first major romantic drama to premiere since last November when "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1" was introduced.

In the film, a newlywed couple suffer a serious car accident that leaves the wife in a coma. After severe memory loss, the wife no longer remembers her husband who is determined to win her heart again.

Sony said that 72 percent of "The Vow" audience members were female, according to CNN. The film, which cost $30 million to produce, earned mostly positive feedback on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes.

Also in the box office this weekend, "Safe House" with Denzel Washington raked in $39.3 million -- the second-best earnings. The film cost $85 million to produce and also stars Ryan Reynolds and Vera Farmiga.

With the weekend's third-best weekend earnings, "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" surprised the movie industry with $27.6 million. The film is the sequel to "Journey to the Center of the Earth" which earned $21 million.

"Journey 2" is available in 3-D and with the higher ticket price and "A" rating on CinemaScore, will likely continue to rake in revenue in theaters.

A surprising disappointment in theaters, 3-D re-release of "Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" saw only $23 million over the weekend. As one of several films to be re-released in 3-D, "Star Wars" topped "Beauty and the Beast" which was released last month.

Rounding at the weekend's fifth-highest earning film was "The Chronicles" which saw $12.3 million. The previously-released film saw a 44 percent drop since its debut, but remains popular with movie-goers.

The drama sees three high school students who acquire supernatural powers and embark on a battle against their own dark sides.