Animation lovers and Jolie oglers came out in force this weekend to propel the box office to its highest point this year. The newest Pixar offering, WALL-E, topped the charts with $62.5 million, followed closely by the Angelina Jolie-starring actioner Wanted with $51.1 million. According to Rotten Tomatoes, this marks the first time that two new releases have topped $50 million in the same weekend. Both films also scored the third-highest opening in their respective ratings category, the G-rated WALL-E coming in behind its Pixar brethren Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc., and the R-rated Wanted behind 2003's The Matrix Reloaded and this summer's Sex And The City.
Last week's No. 1, Get Smart, predictably fell to No. 3 with $20 million, followed by Kung Fu Panda at No. 4 with $11.7 million and The Incredible Hulk at No. 5 with $9.2 million. The Love Guru fell to No. 6 in its second week of release, giving it a 10-day total of just $25.3 million. The Happening also continued to sink like a stone in its third week, down to No. 8 from No. 5 last week with $3.9 million, bested by Indiana Jones at No. 7 after six weeks with $5 million. The top 10 is rounded out by Sex And The City at No. 9 and You Don't Mess With The Zohan at No. 10, bumping Iron Man out of the top 10 after a nine-week run.
More detailed numbers can be found at boxofficemojo.com.