Oscar weekend is typically a time for movie insiders to recognize high-brow, dramatic fare. But no matter who takes home the statues Sunday night, it's the raunchy, hilarious team behind flicks like "There's Something About Mary" and "Kingpin" who are taking home the gold.
"Hall Pass," starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis, topped all comers at the Friday-night box office with an estimated $4.6 million from 2,950 screens. If form holds, it will be the first # 1 opening for writing/directing duo Peter and Bobby Farrelly since 2000's "Me, Myself and Irene."
Not far behind in second place, Liam Neeson's "Unknown" managed to punch up nearly $3.9 million from 3,043 screens in its second week of release. Two years after dominating the February box office with "Taken," the secretly badass star should push "Unknown" past $40 million total by the end of the weekend.
While America's love affair with Neeson waxes, however, its relationship with Nicolas Cage may have waned irrevocably. New release "Drive Angry," featuring the Oscar winner turned action star's latest wackadoo performance, was good enough for only $1.6 million and ninth place. The weak opening is the latest in a string of recent flops for Cage, including "Season of the Witch" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."
In third place, "Just Go With It" starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston pulled in $3.3 million. Rounding out the top five, "Gnomeo and Juliet" and "I Am Number Four" earned $3.16 million and $3.14 million, respectively.
With a new "Director's Fan Cut", out this weekend only, Justin Bieber managed to hold strong at sixth place, as his 3-D concert flick "Never Say Never" scored $2.7 million. The flick's cumulative gross should breeze past $60 million this weekend.
Among Oscar hopefuls, "The King's Speech" (eighth place) continued its impressive run. The presumptive favorite at the Academy Awards brought its total to $108 million with a $1.9 million Friday haul.
