Congratulations to Sandra Bullock and Johnny Depp, who were named top box office stars of 2009 by U. S. movie theater owners, according to the yearly survey by Quigley Publishing Company. The annual list of top money making stars is based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives. Sandra Bullock ranked first on the strength of her starring roles in the romantic comedy The Proposal and the recently-released drama The Blind Side. Johnny Depp ranked second on the basis of his performance in Public Enemies. Completing the top ten were Matt Damon, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf and Denzel Washington.

Quigley has been compiling its list of top box office attractions since 1932, and says its list does not rank stars simply on box office receipts, but on drawing power–what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.

The Zone thanks Gilbert’s Girl for sharing the news; you can read more on the Zone’s News and Views forum. –Part-Time Poet