As expected, with Alice giving up many of its 3D screens, a new film topped the US box office this weekend. The film Alice had to give up many of its screens for, Dreamworks Animation's How To Train Your Dragon, took over at the top, grossing a pretty decent $43 million after some very strong reviews.
However, with reports emerging that a lots of cinemas in the US were putting prices up for 3D screens this weekend, by increasing the premium charged by as much as 25%, that may account for some of the film's gross.
The only other new entry in the top 10 was the comedy Hot Tub Time Machine, which took a decent $13.6 million. Although it got bad reviews, MGM ran a pretty strong campaign for it, largely based on quotes from regular theatregoers, which seems to have done the trick for a movie that many were expecting to tank badly.
We're now gearing up for an interesting battle next week, when Warner releases Clash of The Titans. It'll be the first time two major 3D films have been put into the marketplace so close to one another, with many wondering whether there are enough converted screens to handle both (which is another reason cinemas think they can increase 3D ticket prices). If there aren't, both could suffer at the box office, but we'll have to wait and see.
Take a look below for the full US top 10 for the weekend of March 26th-March 28th.
| Rank |
Title |
Weekend Gross (millions) |
Total Gross to date (millions) |
| 1 |
How to train Your Dragon |
$43.3 |
$43.3 |
| 2 |
Alice In Wonderland |
$17.3 |
$293.1 |
| 3 |
Hot Tub Time Machine |
$13.6 |
$13.6 |
| 4 |
The Bounty Hunter |
$12.4 |
$38.8 |
| 5 |
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid |
$10.0 |
$35.7 |
| 6 |
She's Out Of My League |
$3.5 |
$25.6 |
| 7 |
Green Zone |
$3.3 |
$30.4 |
| 8 |
Shutter Island |
$3.1 |
$120.6 |
| 9 |
Repo Men |
$3.0 |
$11.3 |
| 10 |
Our Family Wedding |
$2.2 |
$16.7 |