Will Smith
© AFP/Getty Images/File Stephen LovekinLOS ANGELES (AFP) - The post-apocalyptic thriller earned 77.2 million dollars in ticket sales, well ahead of family film "Alvin and the Chipmunks," which took a strong 44.3 million, according to figures from box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
"I Am Legend" is a fourth remake of Richard Matheson's 1954 science fiction novel and stars Smith as a New York scientist who is one of the world's last survivors of a virus that has transformed humans into blood-thirsty mutants. The movie's effects have received glowing reviews, notably a five million dollar scene shot on Brookyln Bridge that is reported to be the most expensive ever filmed in New York.
After topping last week's box office with 25.8 million dollars, "The Golden Compass," a fantasy film that had been expected to rake in blockbuster figures, fell to third place with 8.8 million dollars.
The reported 180-million-dollar film, starring Nicole Kidman and James Bond actor Daniel Craig, has been criticized by Christian groups as being anti-religious and has struggled at the box-office.
The Disney fairytale "Enchanted" dropped from second to fourth place with 5.5 million dollars, while the latest Coen brothers movie, "No Country for Old Men," rose one spot to fifth place with 2.8 million.
Three Christmas-themed movies took the next three spots: "The Perfect Holiday" with 2.3 million dollars, "This Christmas" with 2.26 million and "Fred Claus" with 2.22 million.
The World War II drama "Atonement" jumped six spots to ninth place with 1.8 million dollars after earning seven Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, making the film an Oscar contender.
Rounding up the top 12 films of weekend were "August Rush" with 1.8 million dollars, "Juno" with 1.4 million and "Beowulf" with 1.38 million.
©AFP