DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa dominated the North American landscape after launching in a super-wide 4,056 sites and grossing an estimated $63.5m through Paramount.

Approximately 6% of that amount, accounting for roughly $3.6m, came from 130 North American IMAX screens, which IMAX chairman and president Greg Foster highlighted as a clear indicator that filmgoers associate the IMAX experience with tentpole releases.

Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Alec Baldwin, Sacha Baron Cohen and the late Bernie Mac are among the voice talent. Madagascar launched in May 2005 on $47.2m.

Opening strongly in second place on $19.3m was Universal's comedy Role Models starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd as a pair of corporate reps who are ordered to mentor children for 150 hours.

Buena Vista's High School Musical 3: Senior Year was dethroned after two weeks at the top and had to make do with third place after adding $9.3m for $75.7m, while Universal's drama Changeling held well in fourth on $7.3m for $20.6m after three.

The only other new release to break into the top ten was the comedy Soul Men starring the late Mac alongside Samuel L Jackson. Soul Men debuted in sixth place on $5.6m and also features Isaac Hayes, who like Mac also died in August.

The Haunting Of Molly Hartley, released through Freestyle Releasing, tumbled three spots to eighth in its second week as it added $3.5m for $10.2m. DreamWorks-Paramount's thriller Eagle Eye continued to inch towards $100m and ranks tenth after seventh weekends on $96.4m. Buena Vista's Beverly Hills Chihuahua exited the top ten for the first time in its six-week career and ranks 11th on $88.2m.

Next weekend Sony releases the James Bond action title Quantum Of Solace starring Daniel Craig.

Estimated Top 10 North America Nov 7-9, 2008
Film (Dist)/Int'l dist/Est wkd gross/Est total to date
1 (-) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (DreamWorks-Paramount) PPI $63.5m -
2 (-) Role Models (Universal) UPI $19.3m -
3 (1) High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $9.3m $75.7m
4 (4) Changeling (Universal) UPI $7.3m $20.6m
5 (2) Zack And Miri Make A Porno (TWC) TWC International $6.5m $20.9m
6 (-) Soul Men (MGM/TWC) $5.6m -
7 (3) Saw V (Lionsgate) Mandate Int'l $4.2m $52.3m
8 (5) The Haunting Of Molly Hartley (Freestyle Releasing) Odd Lot
Int'l $3.5m $10.2m
9 (7) The Secret Life Of Bees (Fox Searchlight) Fox Int'l $3.1m $29.9m
10 (9) Eagle Eye (DreamWorks-Paramount) PPI $2.6m $96.4m

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