“THE VOW” WINS PINOY HEARTS, GROSSES P34-M IN 7 DAYS

McAdams and Tatum, The Vow

MANILA, Feb 17 – Columbia Pictures' touching romantic drama “The Vow” stole the hearts of Filipino audiences as it grossed an outstanding P34.08-million nationwide in its first seven days of release (Feb 10-16) and on only 61 screens. This was announced today by Vic Cabrera, managing director of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. which distributed the film.

Attracting a predominantly date-market, “The Vow's” successful box-office performance benefited from a pre-Valentine and Friday opening – an irresistible formula for the film's target audience.

“Our decision to launch the film on the same date as its U.S. bow has paid off,” said Cabrera. “We've always believed that `The Vow' is a special love story that Filipinos can relate to, given our fondness for sentimental, romantic movies. Add to this the unmistakable screen chemistry of stars Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, and you have a clear crowd-pleaser.”

In North America, “The Vow” made it to the altar at No. 1 with a sweet $41.7 million gross, outperforming “Safe House” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.” It's the biggest opening for Screen Gems (a unit of Sony Pictures) whose previous record-holder, “Dear John,” is also a romance tearjerker that starred Tatum.

Back in the Philippines, Trinoma posted the highest box-office receipts for “The Vow” at P2.79-M, followed closely by SM Mall of Asia (P2.21-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.66-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.60-M), Power Plant (P1.45-M), SM North EDSA (P1.37-M), SM Megamall (P1.35-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.21-M), Gateway Cineplex (P1.07-M) and Alabang Town Center (P1.06-M).

Rounding out the Top 20 cinemas are Robinsons Ermita (P1.05-M), Greehills Cinema (P 917,490), Newport City (P 914,345), SM Cebu (P 901,280), Shang Cineplex (P 848,402), SM San Lazaro (P 785,797), SM Manila (P 752,793), Robinsons Galleria (P 733,666), Eastwood Cinema (P 706,372) and SM Baguio (P 588,714).

In “The Vow,” Paige (McAdams) and Leo (Tatum) are a young married couple, madly in love and living fulfilling lives as artists in Chicago. One snowy night, the two fall victim to a car accident. Leo survives intact, but a head trauma erases Paige’s entire memory of her relationship with her husband. When she comes out of her coma, Leo is a stranger to her. Suddenly Leo finds himself in the painful position of rebooting the relationship he’s waited his whole life for, and win his wife's love all over again.