As Sony's "Beverly Hills Ninja" and Buena Vista's "Metro" remained virtually tied for first place at the box office through Sunday, Sony claimed victory Monday for the four-day Martin Luther King Day frame.
"Ninja" will finish the holiday weekend with $12.6 million, according to Sony's projections, while BV predicts $11.9 million for "Metro."
In making the estimate, Sony Pictures Releasing president Jeff Blake noted that R-rated pictures historically have suffered sharp drop-offs on the Monday following the King Day holiday weekend, while PG-13 and PG films have fared better.
"Metro," an action comedy, has an R rating; youth-oriented comedy "Ninja" was tagged PG-13.
BV's "Evita" ruled of the No. 3 spot, with an estimated $8.6 million for the four-day period.
The studio upwardly revised its Monday projection slightly after the biopic received a number of Golden Globe awards Sunday.
After 10 days in wide release, the musical has cumed $22.6 million.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com