Gravity needs no introduction anymore. The Sandra Bullock and George Clooney-starring sci-fi thriller has been written about and praised highly non-stop since it was released three weeks ago and on the top of this massive audience and critical success, the film has held strong for it's third consecutive weekend at the top of the box office. This weekend, it's estimated gross reflected a disappointing three days for the movie business, but with approximately $31 million coming in from audiences since Friday (18 Oct.), that number has been enough to keep the Alfonso Cuaron-directed film at the top for another week.

Gravity
Gravity still soars above the competition

There was some competition for the film, namely from newcomer Carrie and fellow Oscar-contender Captain Phillips, which finished the week in second place for a second consecutive week. Despite the best efforts from it's nearest competitors, and still benefitting from the revenue it receives from 3D and IMAX tickets, Gravity is sitting pretty at the top of the film chart once again. With a reported gross of $170.6 million domestically in just three weeks, the film is already the 10th highest grossing film of the year in the home market, and there is a good chance that the film will go on to climb up a few more places in the year's top ten before it's cinematic run is over. Take into consideration the fact that it hasn't been released in international markets yet, then Gravity could become one of the top grossing films of the year.

With Tom Hank's Captain Phillip coming in second once again, grossing $17.3 million over the weekend, this means that the Chloe Moretz-starring remake of Carrie fell short of it's predicted $20 million opening weekend gross. The horror remake mustered around $17 million since it was released on Friday (18 Oct.), an indication of how lackluster a weekend it was at the US box office. Still, with an estimated budget of just $30 million, the financial backers at Sony and Columbia Pictures are still over halfway towards making their money back, and should be near their target by the end of next week should interest in the remake continue to match the weekend takings. That said, in a weekend dominated by prior releases, Sony bosses will still be disappointed not to come in at least in second place, despite it's closest competition being Oscar-bait.

Carrie
Carrie couldn't scare it's way to success

Coming in forth over the weekend was the animated sequel Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, which brought in a solid $10.1 million since Friday. It's domestic gross is petering on the edge of the $100 mil. mark following this weekend success, something that will hopefully soothe some of the sore heads over at Sony.

Another newcomer for the weekend, the Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger starring Escape Plan, has been given mixed reviews so far, and was only really expected to crack male, adult audiences, which is exactly what it did. In a mixed weekend for new releases, the film has finished it's first three days in the box office admirably at fifth place, and when compared to the other new release of the weekend; the WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate, then things look even better for Escape Plan and Carrie.

The Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brühl-starring The Fifth Estate bombed tremendously in it's opening weekend, garnering only $1.7 mil. from it's wide release. Initially, Disney had planned to release the film on a limited basis only, knowing the film would only have a specific demographic. After performing so poorly at the box office and showing no signs that it will rise up the ranks in coming weeks, this is a decision that the film's distributers will rue for some time. Still, it'll probably do better than The Lone Ranger, so there's always that to help Disney rest easy.

The complete top ten is available below (all information courtesy of Box Office Mojo).

The Fifth Estate
It turns out cinema goers aren't interested in WikiLeaks after all

US Box Office Top Ten

1. Gravity - $31,030,000

2. Captain Phillips - $17,300,000

3. Carrie - $17,000,000

4. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 - $10,100,000

5. Escape Plan - $9,800,000

6. Prisoners - $2,065,000

7. Enough Said - $1,800,000

8. The Fifth Estate - $1,714,000

9. Runner Runner - $1,625,000

10. Insidious Chapter 2 - $1,533,000