The Weekend Box Office: ‘The Vow’ falls to second, slow opening for ‘Ghost Rider’ sequel

The box office results look largely familiar this week, thanks to the strength of the Denzel Washington-lead Safe House and the Valentine’s Day-powered The Vow once again taking the top spots, with Safe House managing to outpace The Vow this weekend for the top spot. Sony Pictures Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance took a respectable fourth place with $25.7 million; however, this pales in comparison to 2007’s Ghost Rider opening weekend that took in $52 million. Only three new films managed to break into the top ten this weekend, with Ghost Rider, This Means War, and The Secret World of Arrietty all making strong debuts.

Hit the jump for a full rundown of this weekend’s box office.

While down 29 percent from last week’s opening, Safe House still managed to take the top spot this week, with $28.4 million. Only 2007’s American Gangster has made more through its first 11 days for a Washington-lead film. Sony/Screen Gems’ The Vow slips to second this week with $26.6 million, off 35 percent from its opening. The Vow has become Sony/Screen Gem’s highest grossing film of all time, passing 2010’s Dear John.

Sony Pictures’ Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance opening weekend could be considered somewhat of a letdown, with the sequel failing to equal even half of the original’s same President’s Day opening in 2007. However, the Nicolas Cage-lead Spirit of Vengeance only had a budget of $57 million, so Sony Pictures will no doubt recoup that cost during the film’s theatrical run.

Other new movies in the top ten include romantic-comedy This Means War in fifth place, starring Tom Hardy, Chris Pine, and Reese Witherspoon, and Studio Ghibli animated film The Secret World of Arrietty, which debuted with $8.1 million. The Secret World of Arrietty had the best American opening ever for a Studio Ghibli film, besting 2009’s Ponyo.

With no new Sony-backed films releasing next week, it’s up to The Vow and Ghost Rider to try and remain strong at the box office. Sony Pictures’ next big film, the Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill-lead 21 Jump Street releases on March 16.