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    Alice in Blockbuster Land!

    by Joal Ryan Sun., Mar. 7, 2010 10:10 AM PST

    Alice In Wonderland, Johnny Depp Walt Disney Studios

    "It was bonkers."

    That's how a Disney exec today described Alice in Wonderland's estimated $116.3 million weekend box-office debut.

    Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's 3-D party blew away big expectations, sucked the life (and screens) from Avatar, and became Hollywood's first $100 million-plus opener outside of the summer and holiday seasons. As Disney's Chuck Viane said, borrowing an adjective from his studio's film, "bonkers." More results:

    • Alice made $41 million on Friday and $44.3 million on Saturday. It's expected to make do with $31 million today, provided the Oscars don't keep too many people at home.

    • Worldwide, the reportedly $200 million movie made $210 million overall.

    • The film is easily the biggest of Burton's pretty big box-office career. His previous opening-weekend best was $68.5 million for 2001's Planet of the Apes.

    • The film is the second biggest of Depp's even bigger box-office career. Only the first Pirates of the Caribbean sequel Dead Man's Chest bowed with more money ($135.6 million).

    • Alice was a record draw in IMAX, as you might've guessed if you got aced out of a sold-out weekend screening. The company reports the movie made $11.9 million alone from its theaters.

    • In its 12th weekend, Avatar lost nearly 300 theaters (most to Alice) and slipped to fifth place with its "weakest" Friday-Sunday gross yet: $7.7 million. James Cameron was believed to be holding up just fine what with the Oscars tonight and $720 million now in the domestic bank.

    • In the unlikely event Jeff Bridges doesn't win Best Actor tonight, his Crazy Heart's still a winner. Prior to the Oscar noms, the $7 million drama had grossed $6.8 million. Now it's grossed nearly $30 million.

    • Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side didn't get an Oscar bounce, but the film didn't quit. After picking up another $1.3 million this weekend, it has cracked $250 million domestically.

    • In second place, Brooklyn's Finest ran about $102 million behind Alice in Wonderland but, considering its budget, didn't get killed. The $17 million cop drama pulled in a solid $13.5 million.

    • The $48 million The Tooth Fairy fell from the Top 10, but not before Dwayne Johnson willed the family comedy to a respectable six-weekend run and a nearly $90 million worldwide take, per Box Office Mojo stats.

    • The $150 million Wolfman just didn't have it. It's gone from the Top 10 after just three weekends and $60.4 million. Worldwide, it's still looking toothless at about $127 million overall.

    Here's a complete rundown of the weekend's top-grossing films Friday-Sunday, per estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations:

    1. Alice in Wonderland, $116.3 million
    2. Brooklyn's Finest, $13.5 million
    3. Shutter Island, $13.3 million
    4. Cop Out, $9.1 million
    5. Avatar, $7.7 million
    6. The Crazies, $7 million
    7. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, $5.1 million
    8. Valentine's Day, $4.3 million
    9. Crazy Heart, $3.4 million
    10. Dear John, $2.9 million

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