The Clint Eastwood drama “Gran Torino” vaulted to the top at the box office this weekend with a take of $29 million, climbing to the slot after five weeks in theaters across the country, according to studio estimates from box office trackers Nielsen EDI.
“Gran Torino” stars Eastwood as disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski, who sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager who tried to steal Kowalski’s prized possession, his 1972 Gran Torino. The film has been building an audience since its release in late 2008 and has done $40.1 million to date. Eastwood’s name is being mentioned in the Best Actor category for the upcoming Oscar nominations.
After “Gran Torino”, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson’s comedy “Bride Wars” about two women scheming to have their weddings at New York’s Plaza Hotel, took second with $21.5 million. The newcomer “The Unborn” opened to $21.1 million and third place spot. The horror film is about a 19-year-old girl haunted by a “dybbuk,” the malevolent wandering soul of Jewish folklore, which was once a young boy ruthlessly slaughtered in Auschwitz.
The canine comedy “Marley & Me” fell to fourth place with $11.4 million, marking $123.7 million in three weeks. Brad Pitt’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” rounded out the top five with $9.5 million, bringing its total to $94.3 million. Ticket sales were even with last weekend and 24 percent ahead of the same weekend last year.
Final figures are due Monday.
Box Office Grosses
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| Rank | Title | Weekend | Total Gross |
| 1 | Gran Torino (2008) | $29M | $40.1M |
| 2 | Bride Wars (2009) | $21.5M | $21.5M |
| 3 | The Unborn (2009) | $21.1M | $21.1M |
| 4 | Marley & Me (2008) | $11.3M | $124M |
| 5 | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) | $9.45M | $94.3M |
| 6 | Bedtime Stories (2008) | $8.55M | $97.2M |
| 7 | Valkyrie (2008) | $6.66M | $71.5M |
| 8 | Yes Man (2008) | $6.16M | $89.4M |
| 9 | Not Easily Broken (2009) | $5.6M | $5.6M |
| 10 | Seven Pounds (2008) | $3.9M | $66.8M |