This film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Gemma Arterton as Gretel, from left, Jeremy Renner as Hansel and Pihla Viitala as Mina, in a scene from "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters." (AP/Paramount Pictures)
LOS ANGELES – "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" cooked up $19 million in its opening weekend.
Paramount's R-rated action film update on the classic fairytale starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton topped the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Other films opening over the weekend didn't fare as well. The crime thriller "Parker," starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, debuted in fifth place with $7 million, while Relativity Media's raunchy ensemble comedy "Movie 43" opened in the seventh spot with $5 million.
Hollywood.com box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted that it was the first time box-office grosses were down over last year after four up weekends.
Universal's supernatural horror film "Mama" starring Jessica Chastain dropped to second place with $12.8 million in its second weekend.
Several best-picture Academy Awards contenders continued to benefit from Oscar buzz, as well as the motion picture academy's decision to move up this year's nomination announcements, giving nominees more time in theaters between the unveiling of the nominations and the Feb. 24 ceremony.
"Silver Linings Playbook," which is up for eight Academy Awards, came in third place with $10 million. The film starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence is in its 11th weekend of release.
"Zero Dark Thirty," the Osama bin Laden manhunt drama also starring best actress nominee Chastain, dropped to fourth place with $9.8 million. It's competing in five categories at the Academy Awards.
"Django Unchained," which is nominated for five Oscars, took in $5 million in sixth place, and the musical "Les Miserables," which is up for eight Academy Awards, earned $3.9 million in the 10th position. It was the fifth weekend for both films.
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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters," $19 million.
2. "Mama," $12.8 million.
3. "Silver Linings Playbook," $10 million.
4. "Zero Dark Thirty," $9.8 million.
5. "Parker," $7 million.
6. "Django Unchained," $5 million.
7. "Movie 43," $5 million.
8. "Gangster Squad,"$4.2 million.
9. "Broken City," $4 million.
10. "Les Miserables," $3.9 million.
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Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.
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