Don't Hate Natalie Portman Because She's Perfect

In addition to everything else she's got going on, star's No Strings Attached comedy with Ashton Kutcher opens No. 1 at weekend box office with estimated $20.3 mil

By Joal Ryan Jan 23, 2011 10:10 PMTags
No Strings Attached, Natalie Portman, Ashton KutcherDale Robinette/Paramount Pictures

Natalie Portman's expecting, engaged, and a presumed Oscar frontrunner.

And, oh, yes, she just helped the phrase "sex friends" go mainstream at the box office. Jealous yet?

No Strings Attached, the relationship comedy starring Portman and Ashton Kutcher, led the weekend competition, with an estimated $20.3 million.

For Kutcher, it's his first No. 1 movie (not counting the ensemble-populated Valentine's Day) in nearly six years, going all the way back to Guess Who.

For Portman, it's her first No. 1 movie as a producer.

And, yes, she's a producer now, too.

And, yes, she can do anything.

Elsewhere, the success, or lack thereof, of Vince Vaughn's and Kevin James' The Dilemma might do a better job at making you feel better about yourself: After two weekends, the $70 million serious comedy is loping along with $33.4 million in the domestic bank.

Seth Rogen's The Green Hornet, which was last weekend's champ, didn't do much better. After its second weekend, the $120 million-esque funny hero flick is at $63.4 million.

Surprise Producers Guild winner The King's Speech didn't lose a step—at all. It was virtually even with last weekend's take. 

Oh, and the $13 million Black Swan broke $80 million overall. 

So, yes, again, with the Portman.

Here's the rundown of the top-grossing films, per Friday-Sunday numbers as compiled by Exhibitor Relations:

  1. No Strings Attached, $20.3 million
  2. The Green Hornet, $18.1 million 
  3. The Dilemma, $9.7 million
  4. The King's Speech, $9.2 million
  5. True Grit, $8 million
  6. Black Swan, $6.2 million
  7. The Fighter, $4.5 million
  8. Little Fockers, $4.4 million
  9. Yogi Bear, $4.1 million
  10. Tron: Legacy, $3.7 million