BEOWULF Slashes Competition at the Box Office

Beowulf (above) stormed to the top of the North American box office this weekend with an estimated US$28.1 million.

Robert Zemeckis' computer-animated epic-adventure tale opened at 3,153 theatres on Friday, slamming its competition after scoring with critics and winning over audiences with stunning 3D projections. Based on the ancient epic poem, the film follows Beowulf, a fearless warrior who goes after an overpowering demon and later takes on the monster's equally powerful mother.

Last week's box office champion Bee Movie slipped to No. 2, collecting $14.3 million from ticket sales at 3,984 locations. The DreamWorks computer-animated film directed by Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith lifted its cumulative gross to $93.9 million after a solid three-week run.

Ridley Scott's crime drama American Gangster dropped from No. 2 to No. 3, earning $13.2 million and reaching a total haul of $101 million after three weeks. Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, the film is based on an article about Frank Lucas, the most influential drug lord in Harlem during the 1970s.

Fred Claus fell to the No. 4 slot, taking home $12 million at 3,603 sites. Helmed by David Dobkin, and starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti, the Christmas comedy lifted its total gross to $35.8 after two weeks in theatres.

New entry Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (above) ranked in fifth, pulling $10 million from 3,164 markets. Despite generally positive reviews, Zach Helm's rated-G film delivered a relatively weak opening-weekend performance. The story centers on the eccentric owner (Dustin Hoffman) of a magical toy store who plans to die and hand all his belongings to his charming apprentice, played by Natalie Portman.

This upcoming week, five wide releases will compete for the top spot at the US / Canada box office.

Walt Disney Pictures presents Enchanted (right), about a fairy-tale princess who escapes her 2D world and is thrust into present-day New York City, where she falls in love with a divorce lawyer. Directed by Kevin Lima, the film stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, and Susan Sarandon. Enchanted is set to open this Wednesday.

Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, returns to the big screen with The Mist, the latest adaptation of a Stephen King novel. Starring Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden, the horror film follows a group of small-town residents who seek shelter in a supermarket after a severe thunderstorm unleashes a number of blood-thirsty creatures.

Hitman is an action-adventure tale based on the popular video game of the same title. Directed by Xavier Gens, the film stars Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47, a ruthless assassin who gets tangled up in a dangerous conspiracy involving the Interpol and the Russian military.

In August Rush, a gifted orphan uses his musical talents to track down his birth parents. Directed by Kirsten Sheridan, daughter of Jim Sheridan, the film features an all-star cast that includes Robin Williams, Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Also opening is This Christmas, a drama about a family's first Christmas get-together in almost four years. Delroy Lindo, Chris Brown, Regina King and Mekhi Phifer star.

Limited releases this week include Christmas in Wonderland, a PG-rated comedy directed by James Orr and starring Patrick Swayze; Pratibha Parmar's Nina's Heavenly Delights (above), about two women who develop an intimate relationship at a curry house in Glasgow; and Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, which won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Venice Film Festival. The film stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, and Heath Ledger.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)