Love, action, kids, sci fi: Four big scores at the box office

OK, now it’s a trend — Hollywood is definitely heating up.

This past weekend four films made more — quite a bit more — than $20 million at the box office. That’s only the second time in history that’s happened. All four movies seriously surpassed expectations, and all four played to different crowds.

Playing to the Valentine’s Day-female audience was “The Vow,” which pulled in $41.7 million. Leaning on established romance leads Channing Tatum (“Dear John”) and Rachel McAdams (“The Notebook”) likely helped.

Right behind was “Safe House,” starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, an action flick which made $39.3 million. That’s Denzel’s second biggest opening ever (after “American Gangster”) and it brough relief for Reynolds after two duds (“Green Lantern” and “The Change-Up”) in 2011.

The biggest surprise, though, was “Journey 2: Mysterious Island,” a sequel based on a fairly obscure novel which only had Josh Hutcherson in common with the first movie. With The Rock replacing Brendan Fraser, the kids movie made $27.55 million. Suddenly Hutcherson, at the ripe old age of 19, has two franchises going — this and the upcoming “The Hunger Games.”

The week’s fourth over-20 film was the somewhat expected 3-D version of “The Phantom Menace,” showing “Star Wars” fans will pretty much march anywhere George Lucas points them. It made $23 million.

The weekend’s top 10:

“The Vow” — $41.7 million, $41.7 cumulative

“Safe House” — $39.3 million, $39.3 million

“Journey 2: Mysterious Island” — $27.55 million, $27.55 million

“Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace (3D)” — $23 million, $23 million

“Chronicle” — $12.3 million, $40.1 million

“The Woman in Black” — $10.3 million, $35.4 million

“The Grey” — $5 million, $42.8 million

“Big Miracle” — $3.9 million, $13.2 million

“The Descendants” — $3.5 million, $70.7 million

“Underworld Awakening” — $2.5 million, $58.9 million