As expected, Joe Carnahan’s wolfpunch adventure “The Grey” topped the box office this weekend, grossing $20 million and guaranteeing we’ll be getting a new Liam Neeson action movie every January for the rest of recorded time.

(I bet George Lucas is kicking himself for not inserting a few CG lupines into the 3D upconversion of “The Phantom Menace”. Of course, there’s still time.)

Last week’s top two, “Underworld: Awakening” and “Red Tails“, placed second and fourth with $12.5 million and $10.4 million, respectively, while newcomers “One for the Money” and “Man on a Ledge” opened in third and fifth with $11.8 million and $8.3 million.

Sam Worthington needn’t worry, though; “Wrath of the Titans” will put him back on top in March. Maybe Neeson can fight coyotes on a ledge this time next year, just to prove the genre’s viable.