HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The Liam Neeson thriller Unknown opened with ticket sales of $21.8 million to claim the holiday weekend box office title, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
In the film, Neeson stars as a botanist who awakens after a car accident to discover that his wife (January Jones) suddenly doesn’t recognize him and another man (Aidan Quinn) has assumed his identity.
Coming in second place was I Am Number Four, a suspense-thriller from D.J. Caruso that opened just behind at $19.5 million.
Disney’s animated adventure Gnomeo & Juliet finished third at $19.4 million, while last weekend’s top movie, Just Go With It, slipped to No. 4 at $18.2 million.
The Martin Lawrence comedy Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son opened in fifth place with $17 million.
Weekend Box Office — February 18-20, 2011:
1. Unknown, $21.8 million.
2. I Am Number Four, $19.5 million.
3. Gnomeo & Juliet, $19.4 million.
4. Just Go With It, $18.2 million.
5. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, $17 million.
6. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, $13.6 million.
7. The King’s Speech, $6.6 million.
8. The Roommate, $5.1 million.
9. The Eagle, $3.6 million.
10. No Strings Attached, $3.1 million.
