While its competition remains high on the list, Sony Pictures' PG-13 romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan dropped from fourth to seventh place with an ESTIMATED $5 million (-42%) at 2,926 theaters (-124 theaters; $1,709 per theater). After five weeks in theaters, the film has taken in approximately $83.7 million.

Directed by Wayne Wang, the film about a hotel maid and her Prince Charming stars Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes.

Tying with Maid in Manhattan was Miramax's R-rated Gangs of New York, also with an ESTIMATED $5 million (-32%), at 2,340 theaters (+35 theaters; $2,137 per theater). Audiences don't seem to be flocking to a history lesson about the mean streets of 1860s New York, however. So far, Gangs has only reached around $55 million, though it may pick up if it wins any Golden Globes.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Making its first wide release, Fox Searchlight's PG-13 Antwone Fisher garnered a solid ninth place with an ESTIMATED $3.8 million (+161%) at 1,006 theaters (+814 theaters; $3,777 per theater). The biopic is about a Navy man whose childhood traumas cause him to rebel, but eventually, with the help of his friendly psychiatrist, he searches out his family to mend the wounds. Released in limited theaters Dec. 19, the film's has mad approximately $10.4 million so far.

Directed by Denzel Washington, it stars Washington and newcomer Derek Luke.

Along with Antwone Fisher, Sony Pictures finally gave a wide release to its R-rated dark comedy Adaptation, which entered the Top 10 on the bottom rung 10 with an ESTIMATED $2.9 million (+221%) at 560 theaters (+451 theaters; $5,179 per theater). Released originally on Dec. 6, this quirky look at Hollywood, following a screenwriter as he tries to adapt a novel about flowers into a movie, has made approximately $9.5 million so far.

Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman, it stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper.

OTHER WIDE RELEASES

A few other critically acclaimed films that opened in limited theaters in December ventured onto more screens this weekend, including 25th Hour and Narc.

Buena Vista's R-rated 25th Hour took in an ESTIMATED $2.7 million at 490 theaters (+485 theaters; $5,510 per theater). Since its opening Dec. 19, 25th Hour's cume is approximately $3.4 million.

The film about a man's last 24 hours in New York City before going to jail is directed by Spike Lee and stars Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson.

Paramount Pictures' R-rated Narc, a gritty look at undercover narcotics detectives in search of a cop-killer, churned up an ESTIMATED $2.7 million in 822 theaters (+816 theaters; $3,327 per theater). Since opening Dec. 20, its total box office take is approximately $3 million.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film stars Ray Liotta and Jason Patric.

WEEKEND COMPARISONS

This weekend's top 12 films grossed $88.5 million, down less than 1 percent from the same weekend last year, which saw a total haul of $89.4 million.

The top three films this time last year were New Line's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with $16.2 million, followed by Universal's A Beautiful Mind with $15.2 million and Paramount's Orange County with $15 million.

*Box office estimates provided by Exhibitor Relations, Inc.