'ONE MISSED CALL' RINGS IN NEW YEAR WHILE HOLDOVERS HOVER (THR, VAR)

By Nancy Vialatte

Following a crowded holiday release schedule, horror entry "One Missed Call" is this weekend�s only wide opener. Shannyn Sossamon stars with Edward Burns, as a girl who hears herself being murdered in a voice message three days into the future.

New specialty titles include Andrew Piddington's "The Killing of John Lennon" and Korean horror title "A Bloody Aria."

Holdovers "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "I Am Legend," meanwhile should continue to dominate the upper reaches of the box office chart.

"Book of Secrets" posted a domestic gross of $147.2 million through Wednesday. "Alvin," which finished at No. 2 last weekend, grossed $157.5 million through Wednesday. "I Am Legend" placed No. 3, with a gross of $209.5 million through Wednesday, reports Variety.

Indie hit "Juno" is going nationwide in its fifth weekend, expanding from 1,109 to 1,925 theaters and currently has a domestic cume of $33.7 million through Wednesday. Two other high-profile pics are expanding as well. "Atonement" goes from 310 theaters to 583 in its fourth frame while Spanish horror pic "The Orphanage" moves from 19 to 69 theaters.

Universal's Tom Hanks-Julia Roberts starrer "Charlie Wilson's War" had drummed up $43.1 million through Wednesday.

The Hollywood Reporter suggests �War� shouldn�t be counted out from figuring in a medal position this weekend. It finished fourth during its sophomore session, including an unusual 22% uptick compared with its first weekend.

Universal executives have contended that success with the adult-skewing drama would be marked over several frames. But, says the Reporter, the Mike Nichols-directed film's sprint to a solid $42 million cume since its Dec. 21 release has heightened the sense that "War" could end up as one of those movies that even the most hardened of industryites just has to salute: the gutsy gambit turned commercial windfall.

Abroad, "I Am Legend" is likely to extend its hot streak this weekend as it moves into Australia, Hungary and New Zealand. "Legend" had already cumed $126 million from 25 markets as of New Year's Day and should more than double that figure by the end of its foreign run, opines Variety.

"The Golden Compass" will also remain a strong international player, in sharp contrast with its modest domestic performance. "Compass�" international cume has thus far topped $202 million - more than three times the $61 million domestic total.