As expected The MatrixRevolutions opened number one at theweekend on a $50.2m three-day estimated gross that was certainly nothing to besniffed at but trailed its May predecessor by some 45%.
Since opening on Wednesday to fairly dire reviews, the final episode in theWachowski Brothers' sci-fi trilogy has amassed $85.5m according to WarnerBros. The weekend average was $14,321 from 3,502 sites.
The three-day total represented just over half the weekend debut of TheMatrix Reloaded, which grossed$91.8m in its first three days and $134.2m in its first four.
Within the context of the franchise this must be regarded as a deflatingfinale. However, the massive worldwide gross will offer the studio consolationas the US total combined with international for a stunning $204.1m record tallyin five days (see separate story).
Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving reprisetheir roles as the battle between the sentinels and human rebels reaches itsconclusion.
Back on planet Earth - or at least the North Pole - NewLine's Christmas romantic comedy Elf opened in second place on an impressive $32.1m.
Jon Favreau's feelgood release was a calculated piece ofcounter-programming that drew enthusiastic reviews and averaged a decent $9,619from 3,337 sites.
Will Ferrell stars as a human raised as an elf who leaves his polar home toreconnect with his father, a latter-day Scrooge and Manhattan businessmanplayed by James Caan. Zooey Deschanel and Mary Steenburgen also star.
Universal/Working Title's romantic comedy Love Actually opened sixth on $6.6m and fairly strong reviews,averaging $11,458 from 576 sites.
Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Liam Neeson lead an all-star castin Richard Curtis' directorial debut, which intertwines ten London-basedromantic vignettes.
Elsewhere Buena Vista's traditionally animated Brother Bear performed well, falling one place to third on $18.6mfor a $44.1m running total in its third week.
Dimension's Scary Movie 3 looks certain to pass $100m next week after slipping three to fourth andadding $11.1m for $93.4m in its third week.
Paramount's School Of Rockfell two to 10th, adding £3.2m for $73.6m in its sixth week.
Next weekend's releases include 20th Century Fox'sheavyweight Oscar contender Master And Commander, starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany; WarnerBros' Looney Tunes: Back In Action, a live-action and animated blend starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck,Brendan Fraser and Steve Martin, among others; and Paramount's rapdocumentary Tupac Resurrection,which stars the late Tupac Shakur.

Estimated Top Ten US Nov 7-Nov 9 2003

Film (Distributor)/International distribution/Estimated weekend gross/Estimatedtotal to date

1 (-) The Matrix Revolutions (WarnerBros) Warner Bros International $50.2m $85.5m

2 (-) Elf (New Line) NLI $32.1m-

3 (2) Brother Bear (Buena Vista)BVI $18.6m $44.1m

4 (1) Scary Movie 3 (Dimension)Miramax International $11.1m $93.4m

5 (4) Radio (Columbia)CTFDI/Revolution $7.4m $36.3m

6 (-) Love Actually (Universal)UIP $6.6m --

=7 (6) Mystic River (Warner Bros)Warner Bros/Village Roadshow $4.8m $40.5m

=7 (3) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (New Line) Radar/Focus $4.8m $73.2m

=7 (5) Runaway Jury (Fox) FoxInternational $4.8m $40.1m

10 (8) School Of Rock (Paramount)UIP $3.2m $73.6m