Paramount Pictures' PG-13 sci-fi thriller The Core, fell three notches to sixth place in its second week of release with an ESTIMATED $6.3 million (-48%) at 3,019 (+2 theaters, $2087 per theater). Its cume is approximately $20.9 million.

Directed by Jon Amiel, it stars Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart, Delroy Lindo, Stanley Tucci, D.J. Qualls and Tcheky Karyo.

Sony Pictures' R-rated Basic dropped three pegs to seventh with an ESTIMATED $5.4 million (-53%) at 2,876 theaters (+ 2 theaters, $1,878 per theater). Its cume is approximately $20 million.

Directed by John McTiernan, it stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Connie Nielsen.

In its 15th week of release, Miramax's PG-13 rated musical Chicago continued as a mainstay in the Top Ten, dropping from fifth to eighth place with an ESTIMATED $5.3 million (-26%) at 2,395 theaters (-306 theaters, $2,219 per theater). Its cume is approximately $152.1 million.

Directed by Rob Marshall, it stars Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere.

MGM's PG-rated Agent Cody Banks fell from seventh to ninth place in its fourth week of release with an ESTIMATED $3.7 million (-42%) at 2,331 theaters (-455 theaters, $1,587 per theater average). Its cume is approximately $40 million.

Directed by Harald Zwart, it stars Frankie Muniz, Hilary Duff and Angie Harmon.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Buena Vista's G-rated animated feature Piglet's Big Movie, which dropped two positions in its third week of release with an ESTIMATED $3 million (-39%) at 2,084 theaters (-63 theaters, $1,484 per theater average). Its cume is approximately $17 million.

Directed by Francis Glebas, it features the voices of John Fiedler, James Cummings and Andre Stojka.

OTHERS

This weekend also saw the arrival of two limited-release films, Dysfunktional Family and The Good Thief.

Miramax's R-rated Dysfunktional Family opened with an ESTIMATED $1.1 million at 609 theaters with $1,827 per theater average.

The film is a stand-up-comedy concert film featuring Eddie Griffin that includes scenes from the comedian's personal life.

Directed by George Gallo, it stars Griffin.

Fox Searchlight's R-rated crime comedy The Good Thief, meanwhile, opened with an ESTIMATED $1,00,000 in six theaters, with a whopping $15,292 per theater average.

The film revolves around an aging gambler who assembles a team for a casino heist of a lifetime.

Directed by Neil Jordan, it stars Nick Nolte, Tcheky Karyo and Emir Kusturica.

WEEKEND COMPARISON

The Top 12 films this weekend grossed an ESTIMATED $84 million, down 3.14 percent from last week when they totaled $86.7 million.

The Top 12 were also down 10.17 percent from last year when they totaled $93.5 million.

Last year, Sony's R-rated The Panic Room won the box office two weeks in a row with $18.2 million at 3,053 theaters ($5,969 per theater); Fox's R-rated High Crimes debuted in second with $14 million at 2,717 theaters ($5,155 per theater); and Fox's PG rated animated feature Ice Age came in third in its fourth week of release with $13.5 million at 3,200 theaters ($4,329 per theater).