Heigl’s “27 Dresses” sews up No. 2 while “Mad Money” only makes pocket money with $7.7 mil openingBy Jeffrey Jolson

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/20/08 — The big mean stomping machine in up-converted monster movie “Cloverfield” is rampaging through New York and every other city in America, giving the Paramount movie a January record $41 million opening.

The old school monster film with next-gen special effects passed the $36 million record set a decade ago with the special edition release of “Star Wars,” showing conventional wisdom of not opening big in January may be wrong.

Proving clichés become one because people like them, the formulaic romantic comedy “27 Dresses,” starring Katherine Heigl as an always-bridesmaid stitched up $22.4 million according to studio estimates. It’s a great start for Heigl in her bid to become a studio-level leading lady.

“The Bucket List” can cross “Make money back” off its list as the $45 million budget film is up to $43 million at the U.S. box office in just three week weeks. The Rob Reiner film with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman hasn’t even opened overseas yet.

“Juno” is expecting – to pass the $100 million mark about three weeks before the Oscars, perfect timing. The movie about a smart-aleck teen who decides to have the baby, earned another $10 million at the box office and is up to $85 million now.

“National Treasure 2” dug up another $8.1 million for the weekend and is up to $198 million, while “First Sunday” prayed up $7.8 for its second Sunday out.

Bank heist caper film “Mad Money” only robbed a branch office, scooping up only $7.7 million at 2,400 screens. The film starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes still beat out “Alvin” and his fellow varmints ($7 million) and “I Am Legend” with $5.1M.

Rounding off the Top 10 was “Atonement,” which rose 13 percent to $4.8 million after its Golden Globe win. The other big Globes winner, “Sweeney Todd,” dropped 22 percent to $2.6 million