Buena Vista's CG-animated romp Chicken Little soared to an estimated $40.1m number onedebut over the three-day weekend, ahead of Universal's Gulf War drama Jarheadon $28.8m.

Meanwhile, Lions Gate and Twisted Pictures' horror sequel SawII dropped two places tothird on $17.2m for a superb $60.5m domestic running total that has alreadyovertaken the 2004 original's $55.2m lifetime gross.

The two new launches were higher than expected as weekend businesspicked up a little, however over box office still trailed the same period oflast year by 10% as the top 12 movies grossed $121.2m.

Chicken Little, a computer animated story of a heroic chick, opened to mediocrereviews but still averaged $10,970 on 3,654 screens. Mark Dindal directed andthe voice cast features Zach Braff, Joan Cusack, Amy Sedaris and Steve Zahn.

Jarhead starsJake Gyllenhaal in the persona of former Marine Anthony Swofford, from whosebattle memoirs the screenplay is adapted. Sam Mendes directed and Jamie Foxxand Peter Sarsgaard also star. It drew decent reviews and averaged a powerful$11,924 on 2,411.

Sony/Spyglass'The Legend Of Zorro fell two tofourth on $10m for $30.3m after two weekends, and Universal's comedy Prime also fell two places and ranks fifth after two on$13.5m. Paramount's The Weather Manranks eighth on $8.7m after two weekends.

The quirky romance Shopgirl and McCarthy Era drama Good Night, And Good Luck, released in North America through BuenaVista and Warner Independent respectively, broke into the top 10 following expansionsin their third and fifth weekends.

Shopgirl added$2.5m for $3.5m and Good Night, And Good Luck grossed $3.1m for $11m.

In limited release, Gay Sex In The 70s opened in the Quad in New York andgrossed approximately $16,000. The picture opens in Los Angeles on Nov 8,followed by Chicago on an undetermined date.

Next weekend's wide releases are: Paramount's musical drama GetRich Or Die Tryin' starring50 Cent; Sony's adventure Zathura starring Tim Robbins and Josh Hutcherson; The Weinstein Company'sfirst release, Derailed starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen; Fox Searchlight's drama BeeSeason starring RichardGere and Juliette Binoche; and the wide expansion of Warner Bros' noir comedy KissKiss Bang Bang, whichstars Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr.

Estimated Top Ten US Nov 4-6 2005

Film (Distributor)/International distribution/Estimated weekendgross/Estimated total to date

1 (-) Chicken Little (Buena Vista) BVI $40.1m -

2 (-) Jarhead (Universal) UIP $28.8m -

3 (1) Saw II (Lions Gate) LGI $17.2m $60.5m

4 (2) The Legend Of Zorro (Sony) SPRI/Spyglass $10m $30.3m

5 (3) Prime (Universal) Focus Features $5.3m $13.5m

6 (4) Dreamer: Inspired By A True Story (DreamWorks) Hyde Park Int'l $4.8m $23.8m

7 (12) Good Night, And Good Luck (Warner Independent) 2929 Int'l $3.1m$11m

8 (6) The Weather Man (Paramount) UIP $2.9m $8.7m

9 (21) Shopgirl (Buena Vista) Hyde Park Int'l $2.5m $3.5m

10 (10) Flightplan (Buena Vista) BVI $2.3m $84.5m