It’s no surprise that "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" scored big at the box office this weekend, soaring high about all the other movies. Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, $77.83M
2. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, $17.56M
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, $13.69M
4. Bruno, $8.31M
5. The Proposal, $8.28M
6. The Hangover, $8.17M
7. Public Enemies, $7.74M
8. Up, $3.17M
9. My Sister’s Keeper, $2.82M
10. I Love You, Beth Cooper, $2.76M
11. The Taking of Pelham 123, $889,259
12. 500 Days of Summer, $834,501

Images: TM and (c) 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

The weekend box office numbers are not all that shocking. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is miles ahead of everything else, with "The Proposal" coming in second, and "My Sister’s Keeper" a distant fifth.

Maybe people are like me and don’t want to go see a sad movie right now. My daughter wants to see it, and I’m just not into it! Here are the numbers from Box Office Mojo:

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, $108.96M
2. The Proposal, $18.57M
3. The Hangover, $17.02M
4. Up, $13.06M
5. My Sister’s Keeper, $12.44M
6. Year One, $6.02M
7. The Taking of Pelham 123, $5.45M
8. Star Trek, $3.71M
9. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, $3.64M
10. Away We Go, $1.70M

Image: © 2009 DW Studios L.L.C. and Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

“The Hangover” is a smart, funny movie, and audiences are liking it, too. The buddy flick scored high at the box office this weekend, even though it’s been out for two weeks. Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

1. The Hangover, $32.79M
2. Up, $30.76M
3. The Taking of Pelham 123, $23.37M
4. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, $9.61M
5. Land of the Lost, $8.99M
6. Imagine That, $5.50M
7. Star Trek, $5.45M
8. Terminator: Salvation, $4.78M
9. Angels & Demons, $4.11M
10. Drag Me to Hell, $3.93M

Images: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

New in theaters this weekend are a couple of very different movies, featuring John Travolta as a bad guy and Eddie Murphy as a clueless dad:

The Taking of Pelham 123 (R). It’s a little sad watching John Travolta play a bad guy and thinking about all the grief he’s had this year after losing his son. Still, this movie has couple of great character studies, with Travolta and also Denzel Washington as a subway navigator who’s forced into a take charge position. [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [World Premiere Pics] [Official Site]

Imagine That (PG). It’s a familiar story of a distant dad (Eddie Murphy) bonding with his little girl (Yara Shahidi), but the two share some sweet moments. And Thomas Haden Church plays a goofy Native American character – well, sort of! [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

In limited release: "Call of the Wild 3D"; "Food, Inc."; and "Moon." "Away We Go" expands this weekend, as well.

Image Credit: © 2009 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

"The Taking of Pelham 123" arrives in theaters June 12, 2009. Below are a few images from the world premiere at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Los Angeles on June 4, 2009.

No John Travolta, so I imagine he’s still trying to re-group from the tragic loss of his son earlier this year. I’m sure it would be hard to come out in public and have everyone asking how you’re doing 1000 times.

Are you planning on seeing "The Taking of Pelham 123"? I’m looking forward to it.

Denzel Washington:

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John Travolta stars in "The Taking of Pelham 123," and it’s kind of a different role for him. He plays a bad guy! Travolta’s character, Ryder, hijacks a NYC subway train and holds the passengers hostage. Meanwhile, mild-mannered dispatcher Lt. Zachary Garber (Denzel Washington) is having a really bad day.

Directed by Tony Scott, "The Taking of Pelham 123" is rated R for violence and pervasive language, and scheduled for a June 12, 2009 release. Also stars John Turturro and James Gandolfini. Note: This is actually a remake of a 1974 film starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. Hmmm, I’ll have to check out that movie before I see this new version.

Here’s a look at what’s on tap from Sony Pictures for 2009. Some great films! 

I’m especially looking forward to "The Pink Panther 2," "The Ugly Truth," "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans," and "Angels & Demons." And I’m REALLY curious about "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," because that was one of my kids’ favorite books.

Which of these movies are YOU most looking forward to?  

"Not Easily Broken" – Jan. 9, 2009

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" – Jan. 16, 2009

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" – Jan. 23, 2009

"The Pink Panther 2" – Feb. 6, 2009

"The International" – Feb. 13, 2009

"Fired Up" – Feb. 20, 2009

More after the jump…

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