Stranger things have happened

Oscar contenders received a box office boost from their elevated post-nominations profile, but weekend grosses for the four movies vying for best picture that are still in theaters scared up only slightly more than half the take for the weekend’s No. 1 film, “When a Stranger Calls,” a low-budget remake of a 1979 chiller that brought in about $22 million.

“Stranger,” which Sony/Screen Gems opted not to screen for critics, turned out to be successful counter-programming for Super Bowl weekend, which typically sees big declines in moviegoing. Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures president of distribution, said theater exit surveys indicated audiences for “Stranger” were 55% female and 58% under 21. “Stranger,” in 2,999 venues, will post the best Super Bowl weekend opening, if estimates hold up, surpassing 2005’s Screen Gems horror flick “The Boogeyman,” the prior champ at $19 million.

Turning to the best picture Oscar nominees, “Brokeback Mountain” expanded by 435 theaters to 2,089 locations and took in roughly $5.7 million, Focus Features reported, in the process becoming the highest-grossing title in that category with $59.8 million, surpassing the $53.4 million of “Crash,” which is out on DVD. “Brokeback” was the only best picture nominee to post a slight decline in overall business (off 13%) but rose to No. 4, its highest weekend rank to date.

The only other movie in the top 10 with Oscar nominations was “Walk the Line,” which chalked up a 12% hike in ticket sales to about $3.4 million, rising to ninth place from 12th the prior weekend. “Walk the Line” didn’t make the best picture cut, but Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon are contenders for best actor and actress for their respective roles as Johnny Cash and June Carter. The movie has grossed nearly $111 million.

Including “Brokeback,” three of the best picture nominees reached their broadest theatrical exposure to date.

Warner Independent Pictures expanded “Good Night, and Good Luck” to 929 theaters, its widest release since opening Oct. 7, up from 105 the weekend before the nominations. “Good Night” took in $1.5 million, bringing its 18-weekend total to $26.7 million. Adding 914 locations for a total of 1,239, “Capote” rode its nominations to an additional $2.5 million -- more than triple its figure last weekend -- for a total of $18.2 million since it opened Sept. 30.

Although it reached its widest release in mid-January, Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” benefited from nominations exposure with an 11% increase in business to $1.9 million. Universal booked the film into 171 more theaters post-nominations to 1,151 engagements and cumulative domestic box office of $43.1 million.

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Box Office

Preliminary results (in millions) based on studio projections.

*--* Movie 3-daygross Total When a Stranger Calls $22 $22

Big Momma’s House 2 13.4 45.4

Nanny McPhee 9.9 26.6

Brokeback Mountain 5.7 59.8

Hoodwinked 5.3 44.1

Underworld: Evolution 5.1 52.7

Something New 5 5

Annapolis 3.5 12.9

Walk the Line 3.4 110.7

Glory Road 3 39 Source: Nielsen EDI Inc. Los Angeles Times

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