Warrior a proven winner

“Beowulf” matched analysts’ predictions by grossing about $28 million in its opening weekend, including $11 million from 3-D screenings. Its totals include early shows Thursday night at some theaters.

The weekend’s two other high-profile releases, “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” and “Love in the Time of Cholera,” both opened at the lower end of predictions. “Mr. Magorium” is a family-oriented fantasy starring Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman; “Cholera” is an adaptation of the classic Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel, starring Javier Bardem.

Among movies already in release, last weekend’s top film, the Jerry Seinfeld comedy “Bee Movie,” slipped to No. 2, and the thriller “American Gangster” slipped to No. 3 but topped $100 million. “Fred Claus” held up well, as holiday comedies often do, dipping a modest 35% in its second weekend despite cranky reviews from critics. “No Country for Old Men,” an acclaimed crime drama from the Coen brothers, expanded strongly in its second weekend, averaging $21,000 per theater -- the best in the top 10 -- at 148 locations. But, as expected, Robert Redford’s dialogue-driven political drama “Lions for Lambs” fell sharply in its second weekend, dropping 57%.

Preliminary results (in millions) in the U.S. and Canada, based on studio projections:

Movie (studio): 1. Beowulf (Paramount)

3-day gross (millions): $28.1

Total (millions): $28.1

Weeks: 1

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Movie (studio): 2. Bee Movie (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount)

3-day gross (millions): $14.3

Total (millions): $93.9

Weeks: 3

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Movie (studio): 3. American Gangster (Universal)

3-day gross (millions): $13.2

Total (millions): $101.0

Weeks: 3

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Movie (studio): 4. Fred Claus (Warner Bros.)

3-day gross (millions): $12.0

Total (millions): $35.8

Weeks: 2

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Movie (studio): 5. Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (20th Century Fox)

3-day gross (millions): $10.0

Total (millions): $10.0

Weeks: 1

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Movie (studio): 6. Dan in Real Life (Disney)

3-day gross (millions): $4.5

Total (millions): $37.1

Weeks: 4

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Movie (studio): 7. No Country for Old Men (Miramax)

3-day gross (millions): $3.1

Total (millions): $4.9

Weeks: 2

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Movie (studio): 8. Lions for Lambs (United Artists/MGM)

3-day gross (millions): $2.9

Total (millions): $11.6

Weeks: 2

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Movie (studio): 9. Saw IV (Lionsgate)

3-day gross (millions): $2.3

Total (millions): $61.9

Weeks: 4

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Movie (studio): 10. Love in the Time of Cholera (New Line)

3-day gross (millions): $1.9

Total (millions): $1.9

Weeks: 1

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Industry totals

3-day gross (in millions): $110.0

Change from 2006: -22.9%

Year-to-date gross (in billions): $8.32

Change from 2006: +5.0%

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Note: A movie may be shown on more than one screen at each venue.

Source: Media by Numbers

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Los Angeles Times