LOS ANGELES — The Presidents Day weekend box office was too close to call as the action tale “Safe House” and the love story “The Vow” competed for the No. 1 spot.

Based on Sunday’s studio estimates, Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds’ “Safe House” had a slim lead with $24 million from Friday to Sunday. That put it a fraction ahead of Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum’s “The Vow” with $23.6 million.

No matter which one finishes on top, the movie business remains unusually brisk for winter, typically a slow season at theaters. The uptick comes after Hollywood lumbered through a humdrum holiday season, when audiences were apathetic about most new releases.

The weekend’s overall domestic revenues totaled $160 million, up 10.7 percent from the same weekend last year, when “Unknown” led with a $21.9 million debut.

Estimated ticket sales for the weekend at U.S. and Canadian theaters were:

1. “Safe House,” $24 million

2. “The Vow,” $23.6 million

3. “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” $22 million

4. “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” $20.1 million

5. “This Means War,” $17.6 million

6. “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” in 3-D, $7.9 million

7. “Chronicle,” $7.5 million

8. “The Woman in Black,” $6.6 million

9. “The Secret World of Arrietty,” $6.4 million.

10. “The Grey,” $3 million.

By The Associated Press