Universal's R rated drama The Life of David Gale premiered in sixth place with an ESTIMATED $7.1 million at 2,002 theaters ($3,580 per theater).
In the film, a philosophy professor who is vigorously opposed to the death penalty finds himself on death row when his associate in the advocacy group Death Watch is murdered.
Directed by Alan Parker, the film stars Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet.
Buena Vista's PG-13 rated buddy actioner Shanghai Knights fell from fifth to seventh place in its third week with an ESTIMATED $6.4 million (-42%) at 2526 theaters (-229 theaters, $2,534 per theater). Its cume is approximately $44.4 million.
Directed by Tom Dey, it stars Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson.
Warner's PG-13 rated Civil War biopic Gods and Generals opened in eighth place with an ESTIMATED $4.7 million at 1,533 theaters ($$3,115 per theater).
The film is an epic portrayal charting the early years of the Civil War in early 1861 through 1863, climaxing with the famous Battle of Chancellorsville.
Directed by Ron Maxwell, it stars Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang and Robert Duvall.
MGM's R rated police drama Dark Blue premiered in ninth place with an ESTIMATED $4.7 million in 2,176 theaters ($1,723 per theater).
The film revolves around a rookie LAPD cop who learns the grim realities of police intimidation and corruption in the week leading up to the verdict of the Rodney King trial and the subsequent riots.
Directed by Ron Shelton, it stars Kurt Russell, Scott Speedman and Ving Rhames.
Rounding out the top 10, Buena Vista's PG-13 CIA thriller The Recruit, dropped from sixth to tenth place in its fourth week with an ESTIMATED $3.5 million (-46%) at 1,678 theaters (-658 theaters, $2,086per theater). Its cume is approximately $44.4 million.
Directed by Roger Donaldson, it stars Al Pacino and Colin Farrell.
OTHER OPENINGS
Paramount Classics' R rated supernatural romance Till Human Voices Wake Us debuted in five theaters with an eerily real ESTIMATED $7,700, with an average $1,540 per theater.
In the film, a doctor is haunted by painful childhood memories when he returns home for his father's funeral.
Directed by Michael Petroni, it stars Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce.
WEEKEND COMPARISON
The top 12 films this weekend grossed an ESTIMATED $96.2 million, down 22.26 percent from last week's President Day weekend when they totaled $123.7 million.
The top 12 were up 14.08 percent from last year when they totaled $84.5 million.
Last year, Warner's R rated Queen of the Damned debuted at the top of the box office with $14.7 million at 2,511 theaters ($5,877 per theater); New Line Cinema's PG-13 John Q came in second with $12.4 million at 2,505 theaters ($4,980 per theater); and Universal's PG-13 rated Dragonfly debuted in third with $10.2 million at 2,507 theaters ($4, 075 per theater).