LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "The Green Hornet" is buzzing away with the top spot at the weekend box office.
The tongue-in-cheek superhero film starring Seth Rogen as a playboy-turned-crimefighter earned $34 million during its opening weekend, according to studio estimates released Sunday. Sony Screen Gems' "Green Hornet," which was directed by indie auteur Michel Gondry, shot down Paramount's "True Grit," the Western that reigned supreme the previous weekend.
"As we moved down the road, it got a lot of love, the love that it deserved," said Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution. "I think everything worked really well for the film: the timing, the release date, the marketing, and, most importantly, the film itself. It all gelled in a terrific way. We're very pleased with the results."
The weekend's other major new release, Universal's "The Dilemma," opened in the No. 2 spot. The comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James as partners at an automobile design firm earned $17.4 million. Despite driving away with the top two spots at the box office, Hollywood's first major new releases of the year didn't help to rev up ticket sales.
Hollywood's overall revenues this weekend continued the slump that's persisted through the fall and holiday season. Ticket sales this weekend totaled $115.2 million, down 25 percent compared to the same period last year, when the sci-fi epic "Avatar" continued to dominate at the box office with $42.7 million. Attendance was also down by 27 percent.
Potential Oscar contenders "True Grit," "The King's Speech" and "Black Swan" respectively followed behind "Green Hornet" and "The Dilemma." Both the royal saga "King's Speech" and ballet thriller "Black Swan" are up for several awards, including best drama motion picture and best supporting actress, at Sunday's 68th annual Golden Globes ceremony.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Tuesday.
1. "The Green Hornet," $34 million.
2. "The Dilemma," $17.4 million.
3. "True Grit," $11.2 million.
4. "The King's Speech," $9 million.
5. "Black Swan," $8.1 million.
6. "Little Fockers," $7.1 million.
7. "Tron: Legacy," $5.6 million.
8. "Yogi Bear," $5.3 million.
9. "The Fighter," $5.1 million.
10. "Season of the Witch," $4.5 million.
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