Box office surprise? Not really, but animation dominates

Here's what you need to know: Frozen is now the number one movie in the U.S. Yes, this animated 3D Disney film bested the second installment of The Hunger Games movie trilogy, Catching Fire, and easily beat all other competitors to take the top spot at the weekend box office. I'm not entirely surprised: I'd suspected that Catching Fire and Frozen would be the big winners, but I thought perhaps Fire would melt Frozen.

Overall, this past weekend's box office numbers were okay, though not great by any means. A big part of that was likely the weather: So many states are dealing with a massive winter storm that's dumped tons of snow and a lot of ice. People stayed off the roads, opting instead to get their movie fixes at home. I don't blame them one bit.

Now, let's break down the numbers: Frozen took in $31.6 million over the weekend - an impressive gross and one that beats Toy Story 2 in terms of the highest gross after the Thanksgiving holiday. All total, Frozen has earned more than $134 million to date. From what I'm hearing, this movie is adorable and enjoyable for all ages, so I'd say it's earned the right to that top spot. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to the theater today to see it and confirm everything I've heard.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire also had a nice weekend, taking in $27 million, bringing its U.S. total to nearly $337 million. A newcomer is in third place: The drama Out of the Furnace only managed to take in $5.3 million. Considering that this film stars heavyweights like Christian Bale and Forest Whitaker, I'd call that an epic flop. Thor: The Dark World ($4.7 million) and Delivery Man ($3.8 million) round out this past weekend's top five.

Did any of you brave the ghastly weather and actually see anything in the theater this past weekend? If so, I'd love to hear what movie you saw, and what you thought about it.

Photo courtesy of Moviefone.com