Dreamworks' much anticipatedShrek 2 caused the first major eruption of this summer season at theweekend as it opened top on a staggering $125.3m from its first five days,according to studio estimates.

If these figures areconfirmed accurate on Monday it will be the biggest Wednesday bow of all time,overtaking The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King, which scored$124.1m last December.

Shrek 2 grossed $104.3m over three days for the biggestthree-day opening of the year and the second biggest ever behind $114.8m set bySpider-Man in 2002.

Saturday's $44.8m gross,which by itself almost matched the separate three-day bows of Van Helsingand Troy, was the biggest single day mark of all time, beating Spider-Man'sfirst Saturday gross of $43.6m.

The first Shrekopened in May 2001 on $42.4m and finished on $267.7m. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphyand Cameron Diaz reprise vocal duties in the sequel, which features a trip toPrincess Fiona's parents in the land of Far, Far Away.

John Cleese, Julie Andrews,Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Saunders are among the new voices and thepicture, which averaged a stunning $25,054 from a record 4,163 sites, earnedexcellent reviews. Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury directed.

Last week's champ Troyslipped to second on $23.8m for $85.8m, while Universal's Van Helsingpassed $100m in its third week as it fell one to third, adding $10.1m for$100.2m.

Paramount's comedy MeanGirls continued to mix it with the big boys, adding $6.9m for $64.7m in itsfourth week as 20th Century Fox's thriller Man On Firegrossed $3.5m in its fifth week for $69.3m. Both pictures slipped one place tofourth and fifth respectively.

Sony's romantic comedy 13Going On 30 passed $50m in its fifth week as it added $2.5m for $52.1m andslipped one to seventh, while Warner Bros' comedy New York Minute issinking fast and managed $1.2m in its third week for eighth place and $12.5m.

The only new entry was SuperSize Me, Morgan Spurlock's nauseating documentary about the pitfalls ofexcessive McDonald's consumption that is being released through IDP. It climbedtwo to 10th in its third week and added just under $1m for $2.9m.

Next weekend's wide releasesinclude 20th Century Fox's environmental disaster movie The DayAfter Tomorrow starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal; Buena Vista's comedyRaising Helen starring Kate Hudson and John Corbett; and UA's comedy SoulPlane, which stars Kevin Hart, Method Man and Snoop Dogg.

Estimated Top Ten US May21-23 2004
Film (Distributor)/International distribution/Estimated weekend gross/Estimatedtotal to date
1 (-) Shrek 2 (Dreamworks) UIP $104.3m $125.3m
2 (1) Troy (Warner Bros) Warner Bros Pictures Intl $23.8m $85.8m
3 (2) Van Helsing (Universal) UIP $10.1m $100.2m
4 (3) Mean Girls (Paramount) UIP $6.9m $64.7m
5 (4) Man On Fire (Fox/New Regency) Fox International $3.5m $69.3m
6 (5) Breakin' All The Rules (Screen Gems) CTFDI $2.8m $9m
7 (6) 13 Going On 30 (Columbia/Revolution) CTFDI $2.5m $52.1m
8 (7) New York Minute (Warner Bros) Warner Bros $1.2m $12.5m
9 (9) Kill Bill Vol 1 (Miramax) BVI $1.1m $62.7m
10 (12) Super Size Me (IDP) Fortissimo $953,455 $2.9m