‘Home Alone’ Ousted as No. 1 After 12 Weeks : Movies: ‘Sleeping With the Enemy’ takes top spot.

After 12 weeks as the nation’s No. 1 film, the kid comedy “Home Alone” was finally beaten at the weekend box office. In fact, the 20th Century Fox title slid to third place behind two debuting adult-oriented titles.

With ticket sales of about $13.6 million, Fox’s “Sleeping With the Enemy” was the weekend’s top-grossing film. Starring Julia Roberts as a wife on the run from her abusive--and insane--husband, the R-rated thriller opened on 1,406 screens, for a per-screen average of $9,672. Directed by Joseph Ruben (“The Stepfather”), it opened to mixed reviews, with many critics complaining of a phoned-in script and predictable scare tactics.

Tri-Star Pictures’ romantic comedy, “L.A. Story,” which also opened to mixed critical reaction, was No. 2 with about $6.8 million on 1,090 screens--an average of $6,238. A lampoon of the L.A. lifestyle, the film was written by Steve Martin, who stars opposite his wife, Victoria Tennant.

It was followed by the holiday sleeper “Home Alone,” which earned approximately $5.9 million on 1,989 screens, for a per-screen average of $2,970. It has grossed more than $220 million.

In fourth place, with receipts of an estimated $4.8 million, was Warner Bros.’ just-out fantasy, “The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter.” It opened on 1,188 screens, where it averaged $4,040.

In fifth through 10th places, in estimated figures:

“Dances With Wolves” (Orion Pictures), fifth, $3.7 million; “Awakenings” (Columbia Pictures), sixth, $2.8 million; “White Fang” (Buena Vista), seventh, $2.6 million; “Once Around” (Universal Pictures), eighth, $2.6 million; “Green Card” (Buena Vista), ninth, $2.4 million and “Kindergarten Cop” (Universal), 10th, $2.3 million.

Debuting on two screens--in L.A. and San Francisco--Triton Pictures’ “Heaven and Earth,” a costly Japanese-made samurai epic, earned $26,628. It will open in New York on March 1, then make its way to other major markets.