'Juno' gains steam

LOS ANGELES -- Featuring a star-making turn from Ellen Page as a whip-smart pregnant teen, "Juno" has emerged as an independent film sensation, grabbing critical praise and building momentum as Hollywood's awards season progresses.

Fox Searchlight's comedy came in third this weekend at the box office, with $16.2 million.

"It's the coolest little success story coming out of 2007," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers. "It's playing like a mini-blockbuster right now."

The film has three nominations for Sunday's Golden Globes, among them best musical or comedy and an acting honor for Page.

With $52 million already in the bank, "Juno" is on its way to becoming Fox Searchlight's biggest hit ever, approaching "Little Miss Sunshine" at $59.9 million and "Sideways" at $71.5 million.

"Juno" started off in larger cities but now has caught fire in smaller towns such as Columbus, Ohio, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said Peter Rice, Fox Searchlight president.

"The middle of the country has really embraced the movie. And I think the time of year has had a magnifying effect. All the top 10 lists," Rice said. "When the press writes that it's one of the best movies of the year combined with a movie people love, I think those are the defining factors."

1. "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," $20.2 million

2. "I Am Legend," $16.4 million

3. "Juno," $16.2 million

4. "Alvin and the Chipmunks," $16 million

5. "One Missed Call," $13.5 million

6. "Charlie Wilson's War," $8.2 million

7. "P.S. I Love You," $8 million

8. "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," $6.3 million

9. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," $5.4 million

10. "Atonement," $5.1 million