The Grey is gold at U.S. box office

Liam Neeson’s adventure drama bumped Kate Beckinsale’s horror film Underworld: Awakening to second place with takings of $12.5 million (£7.8 million).

Coming in at a close third was Katherine Heigl’s bounty hunter comedy One For the Money with earnings of $11.8 million (£7.4 million).

Falling to number four was George Lucas’ passion project Red Tails ($10.4 million/£6.5 million) and Man on a Ledge, starring Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks, opened in fifth ($8.3 million/£5.2 million).