Fox enjoyed another spectacular performance from its Owen Wilson-Jennifer Aniston family drama Marley & Me which grossed an estimated $14M on Friday, down 6% from Thursday's record-breaking opening day. The pooch pic now looks certain to win the entire weekend possibly collecting $35-40M over the Friday-to-Sunday span and a terrific $50-55M across the four-day Thursday-to-Sunday period.

Paramount's reverse aging drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Disney's adventure comedy Bedtime Stories both took in roughly $10M on Friday in their second day in theaters. The Brad Pitt pic skewed older to an audience more likely to have work on Friday and was hit harder falling 14% from Thursday while the Adam Sandler film dipped by 7%. Both films will be fighting over second place for the weekend and should collect just north of $25M over three days and a little over $35M for four days. The performance is more impressive for Button since it is playing in 700 fewer theaters and runs one hour longer.

Tom Cruise's war thriller Valkyrie eased 3% to an estimated $8M on Friday and is heading for a fourth place finish. The weekend bow should reach $21-24M while the four-day tally looks to end in the vicinity of $30M for MGM. With four different movies opening to $30M or more over the long weekend, the marketplace is expanding to accommodate the variety of product with all audience segments finding something worth spending money on.

More star-driven films followed. Jim Carrey's Yes Man grossed an estimated $6M on Friday and is looking to score about $20M over four days. The Will Smith drama Seven Pounds took in an estimated $4.8M on Friday and could find its way to $16-18M over the long holiday weekend.

Universal's animated entry The Tale of Despereaux saw sales surge 60% from Thursday to Friday to an estimated $3.2M. A four-day score of about $12M should result. The only new wide release to stumble was Lionsgate's actioner The Spirit which tumbled 33% in its second day to an estimated $2.5M. The three-day tally could finish with $7M while the long weekend debut will end with around $11M.

Be sure to check the NEW box office chart of the Top 20 Films of 2008.

Check the UPDATED box office chart of Golden Globe nominees and their grosses.

For reviews of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Yes Man visit The Chief Report.

Check back on Sunday for the complete Christmas holiday weekend box office report.