'True Grit' is a true hit for the Coens

The straight-ahead Western "True Grit" has little chance of winning the best picture Oscar Sunday, which probably doesn't bother its writers and directors, Joel and Ethan Coen. They already have a handful of Academy Awards (for "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men"), and what's more, "True Grit" has become their highest-grossing film in the United States.

While most eyes have been following "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network" as they jockey for best picture, "True Grit" has quietly become a hit. Since its release in late December, it has pulled in $164.7 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, making it the third- highest-earning nominee behind "Toy Story 3," with $415 million, and "Inception," with $292.5 million.

That's unusual, given that Westerns have a poor-to-middling track record with modern-day viewers. Traditional Westerns (as opposed to hybrids like "Jonah Hex") are hardly made anymore. To see why, look at two examples from 2007, "3:10 to Yuma," which earned a passable $53.6 million, and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," which scraped out $3.9 million.

Westerns also have flopped at the Oscars, even since their glory days. They're rarely nominated for best picture, and only three have won: 1931's "Cimarron," 1990's "Dances With Wolves" and 1992's "Unforgiven." (It's worth noting that the 1969 version of "True Grit" earned John Wayne his only Academy Award, for best actor.)

So if "True Grit" doesn't take home many Oscars, don't feel too sorry. This Western has already had its gold rush.