Is the Chick Flick Dead?

R-rated Bridesmaids grosses studly $26.2 million in its weekend box-office debut, up from Sunday's estimates; Thor continues its reign at No. 1

UPDATE: Bridesmaids' opening weekend was even bigger than estimated, with a $26.2 million gross, final numbers released today show.

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Kate Hudson, beware. Katherine Heigl, take note.

Bridesmaids may have just done your genre in at the weekend box office.

Here's how:

The R-rated, anti-chick flick comedy killed with an estimated $24.4 million Friday-Sunday debut.

The take, off a reputedly $32.5 million budget, was millions bigger than that of Hudson's Something Borrowed, which opened last weekend, and, in fact, is bigger than the starts of any of the actress' movies since 2003's How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Bridesmaids also bested Heigl's two latest rom-coms, Life As We Know It and Killers.

Granted, the Kristen Wiig-led comedy is better compared to the movies of Judd Apatow, who produced Bridesmaids, if not mandated its food-poisoning set piece.

Among Apatow comedies of the Knocked Up era, Bridesmaids out-opened Get Him to the Greek, Funny People and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, among others.

Unlike those guy-driven films, Bridesmaids was powered by women over 30. 

Or should that be, women over 30 who are tired of chick flicks?

Elsewhere, Thor impressed with a strong hold, especially for a summer blockbuster, and remained No. 1 for a second weekend. Its worldwide haul stands at $315 million-plus.

Fast Five pulled out of a swift decent, and impressed with its overall awesomeness. Worldwide, it's at a staggering $440.5 million.

Among other new releases, the Will Ferrell dramedy Everything Must Go did so-so ($800,000 off 218 screens); the billionth Natalie Portman movie of 2011, Hesher, did less ($126,811 off 42 screens).

Mel Gibson's The Beaver moved up to 105 screens, but slipped further from sight, grossing just $158,000.

Would Disney's Prom have been better served on the Disney Channel? As a theatrical release, the tween comedy is out of Top 10 after just two weekends, and just $8.9 million overall. 

Here's a complete rundown of the top-grossing films, per Friday-Sunday numbers as compiled by Exhibitor Relations.

1. Thor, $34.5 million
2. Bridesmaids, $24.4 million
3. Fast Five, $19.5 million
4. Priest, $14.5 million
5. Rio, $8 million
6. Jumping the Broom, $7.3 million
7. Something Borrowed, $7 million
8. Water for Elephants, $4.1 million
9. Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, $2.2 million
10. Soul Surfer, $1.8 million

(Originally published May 15, 2010, at 1:54 p.m. PT)