HOLLYWOOD - Time flew this weekend as The Time Machine soared into first place with $22.5 million, well beyond the $15 million launch Hollywood handicappers anticipated.We Were Soldiers retreated to second place with a still potent $14.4 million. All About the Benjamins kicked off strongly in third place with $10.1 million.
Also driving the box office were 40 Days and 40 Nights, down 42 percent to fourth place with $7.1 million, and John Q in fifth place with a still impressive $6 million.
Key films -- those grossing $500,000 or more -- did nearly $98 million, up 43 percent from $68 million last year.
THE TOP TEN
DreamWorks and Warner Bros.' PG-13 rated time travel fantasy drama The Time Machine landed atop the chart with a fantastic ESTIMATED $22.5 million at 2,944 theaters ($7,643 per theater).
Time's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. The film is being released domestically by DreamWorks and internationally by Warner Bros., which co-financed its production.
Directed by Simon Wells, it stars Guy Pearce.
"There were only a handful of movies released in the first half of March that ever grossed more than $20 million, so we're pretty happy about this," DreamWorks distribution head Jim Tharp said Sunday morning.
"The tracking going into the weekend had indicated maybe a $15 million opening. So this is well above expectations based on tracking."
Focusing on the film's audience composition, Tharp noted, "I think we got the sci-fi fans along with young males. An indicator of that is that in locations where school was out for spring break, there were extremely strong grosses coming out of those theaters. As spring break rolls throughout the country, the movie should hold pretty well and do well mid-week."
Time is the latest film to perform strongly at the box office despite an unfriendly reception by the critics. "I think on any wide release, the reviews can either help a little or hurt a little, but it's not something that's drastic at all," Tharp said. "With limited release movies when you play upscale markets, then obviously they mean a lot. But on a wide release, reviews can help a little or hurt a little, but that's all."