'The Grey' Takes Home Green at the Box Office, Jan. 27-29, 2012

"The Grey" starring Liam Neeson in a survival story battling both the weather and grey wolves led the box office "pack" with a better-than-expected $20 million take for the weekend of Jan. 27 - 29, 2012.

"The Grey" was well-received by critics, but not by everyone: animal rights groups such as PETA criticized the film for its portrayal of grey wolves. Wolves are, by nature, shy and it is doubtful they would track and stalk a group of humans as shown in the movie.

Wendy Keefover, carnivore-protection director for WildEarth Guardians, another of several groups that called for a boycott of the film, claimed it’s “inciting terror” of wolves in the same way that Jaws did of sharks. “The notion that wolves attack humans is ridiculous," she said, adding, "Most people don’t know anything about wolves. This movie will tap into their primal fears and create mass hysteria."

Only two fatal wolf attacks have been documented in the history of North America.

Even hunters have criticized the depiction of wolves in "The Grey." Carter Niemeyer, a retired professional trapper and author of The Wolfer said, “Wolves have never been aggressive toward me in the 25 years I’ve worked with them close up! From my experience, they’re curious, they’re cautious, they’re aloof, and they really don’t want anything to do with you.”

All that said, calls for boycotts of the movie seemed to have little effect, as it took a bite out of the box off receipts of last week's No. 1 film, "Underworld: Awakening," starring Kate Beckinsale in the latest sequel in the vampire - werewolf series (there are those wolves again), which took in $12.5 million to land in second position.

The new Katherine Heigl comedy, "One for the Money," finished in third place with $11.8 million, which topped industry forecasts of less than $10 million for the film, which is based on a best-selling book by Janet Evanovich.

Last week's No. 2 movie, "Red Tails," about the Tuskegee Airmen, fell to No. 4. It took in $10.4 million.

The weekend's other debut, the crime drama "Man on a Ledge," took in $8.3 million to settle in at fifth place. Summit Entertainment, newly acquired by Lions Gate, distributed the move as the marketing plans and release dates for the film were set long before the two studios merged earlier this month.

The top five movies for this weekend, Jan. 27-29 were:

1. The Grey - $20.0 mil
2. Underworld: Awakening - $12.5 mil
3. One for the Money - $11.8 mil
4. Red Tails - $10.4 mil
5. Man on a Ledge - $8.3 mil

Source

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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