How To Train Your Dragon slays Alice in US with $43.3m launch

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DreamWorks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon opened top of the charts through Paramount on an estimated $43.3m.

The third highest recorded 3D launch behind Alice In Wonderland and Avatar toppled Disney’s aforementioned hit, which fell to second on $17.3m for $293.1m and has now amassed more than $656m worldwide including the $363m international running total.

MGM’s comedy Hot Tub Time Machine starring John Cusack and Rob Corddry launched third on a modest $13.7m amid much hype from the financially beleaguered studio’s publicity unit.

Fox’s Avatar fell out of the top ten for the first time in its 15-week release and ranks 11^th on $740.4m. Sony’s The Bounty Hunter fell one place to fourth on $12.4m for $38.8m in its second weekend, while Fox’s Diary Of A Wimpy Kid dropped three to fifth on $10m for $35.8m after the same amount of time.

Universal’s Green Zone ranks seventh on $30.4m after three weekends, and Shutter Island in eighth has amassed $120.6m after six.

In limited release Sony Pictures Classics opened the thriller Chloe just outside the top ten on a little over $1m from 350 theatres, and Apparition’s The Runaways added $445,000 from 237 for $1.6m in its second weekend. Greenberg stands at $1.2m through Focus Features from 181 after two.

Next weekend’s wide releases will most likely be dominated by Warner Bros’ epic remake Clash Of The Titans starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Mads Mikkelsen and Gemma Arterton. Also launching wide are Lionsgate’s comedy Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too, and Disney’s drama The Last Song starring Miley Cyrus.

Estimated Top 10 North America Mar 26-28 2010

Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (-) How To Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) PPI $43.3m –

2 (1) Alice In Wonderland (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $17.3m $293.1m

3 (-) Hot Tub Time Machine (MGM) Lakeshore Int’l $13.7m –

4 (3) The Bounty Hunter (Sony) SPRI $12.4m $38.8m

5 (2) Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (Fox) Fox Int’l $10m $35.8m

6 (6) She’s Out Of My League (Paramount) PPI $3.5m $25.6m

7 (5) Green Zone (Universal) UPI $3.4m $30.4m

8 (7) Shutter Island (Paramount) PPI $3.2m $120.6m

9 (4) Repo Men (Universal) UPI $3m $11.3m

(9) Our Family Wedding (Fox Searchlight) Fox Int’l $2.2m $16.8m