The Pixar hit factory maintained its solid gold reputation at theweekend as The Incredibles opened top on an estimated $70.7m through Buena Vista.

And in a result that will only confound the woes of Disney asPixar looks for a new partner after their contract expires next year, TheIncredibles registeredthe biggest ever three-day total for Disney and the biggest debut for a Pixartitle.

Saturday's $29.4m tally was also the studio's biggest single daytotal of all time. Finding Nemo opened top over the weekend of May 30-Jun 1 2003 on $70.3m andwent on to gross $339.7m.

This wasn't the best November debut, however. That accoladebelongs to Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, which grossed $90.3m in November 2001,followed by Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets' $88.4m a year later.

All this meant that after two weeks at number one Ghost HousePictures' The Grudge,released in the US through Columbia, finally ceded top billing and fell twoplaces to third on $13.5m for an excellent $89.6m.

Universal's Ray stayed in second place on $13.8m for $39.8m, while Lions Gate'shorror hit Saw fellone to fourth on $11.4m for $35.7m - a healthy return on investment for the$1.5m production.

Paramount's Alfie remake flopped in fifth place, opening on a lacklustre $6.5m thatwill do nothing to lift the mood at the studio in a broadly disappointing year.It emerged last week that Paramount chief Sherry Lansing will step down fromher role when her contract expires at the end of 2005.

Jude Law reprises the Michael Caine role from the 1966 original,playing a loveable womaniser who learns to change his ways. Sienna Miller,Susan Sarandon and Marisa Tomei also star in Charles Shyer's remake.

DreamWorks' Shark Tale passed $150m as it added $4.6m for $154.1min its sixth weekend, falling three places to seventh. Overall the top 12titles combined for a $136.1m box office.

Next weekend's wide releases are: Warner Bros' animated title ThePolar Express, whichstars Tom Hanks; Focus Features' Seed Of Chucky starring Jennifer Tilly and Billy Boyd;New Line's thriller After The Sunset, which stars Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek and Miramax's FindingNeverland starringJohnny Depp and Kate Winslet.

Estimated Top Ten US Nov 5-7 2004

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

1 (-) The Incredibles (Pixar/Disney) BVI $70.7m -

2 (2) Ray(Universal) UIP $13.8m $39.8m

3 (1) The Grudge (Columbia) Senator International $13.5m $89.6m

4 (3) Saw(Lions Gate) LGFI $11.4m $35.7m

5 (-) Alfie (Paramount) UIP $6.5m -

6 (5) Shall We Dance' (Miramax) Miramax International/BVI $5.7m $42.1m

7 (4) Shark Tale (DreamWorks) UIP $4.6m $154.1m

8 (6) Friday Night Lights (Imagine/Universal) UIP/various $3m $57.3m

9 (7) Ladder 49 (Buena Vista) BVI/Summit $2.6m $69.9m

10 (8) Team America: World Police (Paramount) UIP $1.9m $30.5m