Victories off Rango off `into exchange off crat shooting off weekend

Never underestimate a chameleon.

The Gore Verbinski-directed animated comedy “Rango” earned the top spot with $38 million over the weekend. However, it grossed far below the $50 million expectation by the industry. The film is about a chameleon, who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desparate need of a new sheriff. It featured the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Bill Nighy, Alfred Molina and Abigail Breslin.

The science-fiction thriller “The Adjustment Bureau” was in second place with $20.9 million. The Universal Films movie is about an affair between a politician and a ballerina, which is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart. The film stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.

“Beastly” managed to garner $10.1 million for third place. The contemporary adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” starred Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens. Some considered it a respectable opening with its $17 million budget.

In rounding the top five, “Hall Pass” received $9 million in fourth place, a drop of 33.4 percent from the previous weekend. And in fifth place, Disney’s “Gnomeo & Juliet” received another $6.9 million, a drop of 48.4 percent from the previous weekend. “Gnomeo & Juliet” has a cumulated total of $84 in three weeks.

The final wide release “Take Me Home Tonight” was a box office bomb. The 80s-inspired comedy only drew $3.5 million for its premiere weekend and did not even make it in the top ten box office results. It looks like the audiences don’t want to relive the 1980s with Topher Grace.

For next weekend, several films will be in theaters including “Battle: Los Angeles,” “Red Riding Hood,” “Mars Needs Moms,” “Black Death,” “Elektra Luxx,” and “Jane Eyre.”

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE for March 4-6, 2011

1. Rango $38 million 2. The Adjustment Bureau $20.9 million 3. Beastly $10.1 million 4. Hall Pass $9 million 5. Gnomeo & Juliet $6.9 million 6. Unknown $6.6 million 7. The King's Speech $6.501 million 8. Just Go With It $6.5 million 9. I Am Number 4 $5.7 million 10. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never $4.3 million Source: Box Office Mojo

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