The Universal one-two held firm as Ride Along dominated the US charts with ease and Lone Survivor held on to second place. Lakeshore’s newcomer I, Frankenstein delivered a disappointing $8.3m through Lionsgate at number six.

Overall box office for the top 12 grossed $96.5m and fell 38% against the previous weekend yet it gained 8% against the comparable session in 2013 when Paramount’s Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters opened top on $19.7m.

A further $21.2m for Ride Along saw the comedy climb to $75.4m after two sessions, while Lone Survivor, which Universal acquired from Foresight Unlimited, added $12.6m for $93.5m after five sessions.

The Nut Jobin third place added $12.3m through Open Road and has grossed $40.3m after two.

I, Frankenstein stars Aaron Eckhart and could not muster enough to deliver a promising theatrical start. Ancillary markets should take care of the film in the months and years ahead but this was a below-par start nonetheless.

Like Lone Survivor, the US top 10 boasts several independent success stories. American Hustle is something of a hybrid although $127m from seven sessions would be considered a success even if Sony owned the film outright and had not elected to split financing with Annapurna Productions.

The Wolf Of Wall Street, financed by Red Granite, has taken $98m through Paramount and will cross $100m in a matter of days.

Focus Features is pushing Dallas Buyers Club after the Golden Globes and SAG wins for Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. In its 13th weekend the drama expanded by 691 to 1,110 theatres and added $2m for $20.4m.

12 Years A Slave is also on the rise following the recent Golden Globe best dramatic feature triumph. Fox Searchlight added 470 sites for 1,231 and a further $2m for that film raised the running total to an excellent $43.5m after 15.

Gimme Shelter opened through Roadside Attractions on $721,000 from 385. Gloria, Sebastian Lelio’s Chilean foreign language Oscar submission starring Berlin Silver Bear winner Paulina Garcia, opened through Roadside on $58,800 from three for a superb $19,600 per-site average. Cinedigm opened Visitors well on $10,700 from a single site.

This week’s new wide releases are: Focus Features’ rom-com That Awkward Moment starring Zac Efron and Miles Teller, star of the Sundance grand jury and audience dramatic award winner Whiplash; and Paramount’s Labor Day directed by Jason Reitman and starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin

Estimated Top 10 North America Jan 24-26 2014
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (1) Ride Along (Universal) UPI $21.2m $75.4m

2 (2) Lone Survivor (Universal) Foresight Unlimited $12.6m $93.6m

3 (3) The Nut Job (Open Road) Red Rover $12.3m $40.3m

4 (5) Frozen (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $9m $347.8m

5 (4) Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Paramount) PPI $8.8m $30.2m

6 (-) I, Frankenstein (Lionsgste) Sierra/Affinity $8.3m –

7 (6) American Hustle (Sony) Panorama $7.1m $127m

8 (8) August: Osage County (TWC) TWC $5m $26.5m

9 (9) The Wolf Of Wall Street (Paramount) Red Granite International $5m $98m

10 (7) Devil’s Due (Fox) Fox International $2.8m $12.9m

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