Weekend Box Office: The Town in Command, Easy A Makes the Grade

By Chris Kavan - 09/20/10 at 12:27 PM CT

Looks like Ben Affleck has been missed as the director / actor's The Town came out on top with $23.8 million and high praise from the mostly male audience. Although it came in second place, the Emma Stone comedy Easy A may well be the top winner. Why? Because while it only made $18.2 million - the budget was a scant $8 million (compared to around $37 million for The Town). It also was a good bet with audiences and critics.

The third-place entry Devil, with $12.5 million, wasn't so lucky. With only so-so numbers, and not much praise, it should fall hard and be lucky to break the $30 million mark. The other new release, the animated Alpha and Omega, earned only $9.2 million for a 5th place showing.

Last week's #1-by-default Resident Evil: Afterlife fell pretty hard, landing in 4th with $10.1 million - about on par for a horror movie with a limited audience. Takers is showing some legs, staying at #6 with $3.0 million while Machete clings to life at #10 with $1.7 million. Meanwhile Inception actually climbed a spot to #8 with $2 million.

Next week's best bets look to be Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, the animated Owls of Ga'Hoole and the female-aimed comedy You Again.