In its first weekend of wide release, Clint Eastwood’s latest drama “Gran Torino” ruled the box office for the weekend of January 9-11, bringing in nearly $29.5M. Industrywide, the first weekend of the 2009 boxoffice year marked a 4% improvement over the same frame last year with $146 million in collective grosses, according to Nielsen EDI data. More at The Hollywood Reporter.

RANK
Title
Studio
Weekend Gross
Jan 9-11
Total Gross

1
GRAN TORINO
WARNER BROS.
$29,484,388
$40,524,518

2
BRIDE WARS
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
$21,058,173
$21,058,173

3
THE UNBORN
UNIVERSAL
$19,810,585
$19,810,585

4
MARLEY & ME
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
$11,391,425
$123,751,596

5
BENJAMIN BUTTON
PARAMOUNT
$9,212,515
$94,092,395

6
BEDTIME STORIES
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
$8,802,120
$97,432,093

7
VALKYRIE
MGM STUDIOS
$6,617,065
$71,464,448

8
YES MAN
WARNER BROS.
$6,032,337
$89,288,024

9
NOT EASILY BROKEN
SONY PICTURES
$5,314,278
$5,314,278

10
SEVEN POUNDS
SONY …

U.S. Box office earnings for the first weekend of the new year reached $123.2 million – down 28% from the prior weekend ($169.9 million), but up 10% compared to the same weekend a year ago ($112.5 million), Nielsen reported Monday.
Twentieth Century Fox’s “Marley & Me” remained in the top spot for the second weekend running, with earnings of almost $24.3 million between Jan. 2 and 4.
Walt Disney Studios’ ”Bedtime Stories” claimed second place, with earnings of $20.5 million, and Paramount’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” rounded out the top three, with an $18.7 million box office …

U.S. Box office earnings over the weekend following the Christmas holiday reached $169.9 million – up 120% over the prior weekend ($77.4 million), but down by 27% compared to the same weekend a year ago ($232.9 million), Nielsen reported Monday.
Twentieth Century Fox’s “Marley & Me” took over the top spot, with earnings of almost $36.5 million between Dec. 26 and 28.  Last weekend’s number one movie, Warner’s Brothers’ “Yes Man,” fell to fifth place — though its weekend gross fell only slightly: from $18.2 million during the weekend of Dec. 19-21, …