The Nicolas Cage-starring, apocalyptic action-thriller Knowing opened strong at the U.S. movie box office this past weekend, finishing number one in ticket sales during its first weekend of release, with a total take of $24.8 million. The film drew from a wide demographic despite poor reviews.

Cage’s popularity and the film’s high-concept doomsday scenario pushed it ahead of two other highly anticipated new releases, the buddy comedy I Love You, Man and the spy film Duplicity, the latter starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

The previous weekend’s top film, Race to Witch Mountain, fell to fourth, with Watchmen rounding out the top five with a further big drop in audience interest.

Once again, genre films dominated audience preferences, with big stars, action, and humor the strongest draws again. Apocalyptic themes were strong, with Knowing and Watchmen both presenting themes of imminent world catastrophe.

—S. T. Karnick