Alice tumbles into history with $116.3m North American launch

The launch result surpassed even that of Avatar and, combined with the $100.5m international debut for a $216.6m global tally, gave Tim Burton easily his biggest domestic and overseas launch and gave Disney an instant smash.

This was the biggest first quarter launch in domestic history as well as the biggest debut for a non-sequel. The film was active in 3,728 sites, of which 2,063 were 3D-equipped. There were 188 IMAX screens in the mix, too.

Leading the pack some way behind in second place on a nonetheless noteworthy result was the debut of Brooklyn’s Finest on $13.4m, which gave Overture Films its second entry in the top ten in consecutive weekends following The Crazies.

Antoine Fuqua’s crime drama premiered at Sundance 2009 and had originally been set up at the now defunct Senator Entertainment. Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle star in the high stakes tale that intertwines the lives of three New York police officers.

Paramount’s Shutter Islandis about to cross $100m after adding $13.2m for $95.8m in its third weekend. The film slipped two place to third and is looking good to overhaul The Departed’s $132.4m mark and give director Martin Scorsese and new box office career high.

Avatar now ranks fifth after 12 weekends and added $8.1m for an astonishing $720.6m. Overture’s The Crazies fell three places to sixth in its second weekend, adding $7.1m for $27.5m.

Fox Searchlight’s Crazy Heart is holding on in ninth place ahead of tonight’s Oscars, which are expected to deliver Jeff bridges his first lead performance Oscar. The film, which cost around $7m to produce, added $3.3m for an excellent $29.5m after 12 weekends.

Berlin Silver Bear winner Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer climbed five places to 13^th through Summit Entertainment in its third weekend and grossed $1.3m from 147 theatres –after expanding by 104 – and has now reached $2.6m.

Next weekend’s wide releases are: universal’s thriller Green Zone, reuniting Paul Greengrass with his Jason Bourne star Matt Damon; Summit’s romance Remember Me starring Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin; Paramount’s romantic comedy She’s Out Of My League with Jay Baruchel and Alive Eve; and Fox Searchlight’s comedy Our Family Wedding starring Forest Whitaker and America Ferrera.

Estimated Top 10 North America Mar 5-7 2010

Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (-) Alice In Wonderland (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $116.1m –

2 (-) Brooklyn’s Finest (Overture) Nu Image $13.4m –

3 (1) Shutter Island(Paramount) PPI $13.2m $95.8m

4 (2) Cop Out (Warner Bros) WBPI $9.3m $32.5m

5 (4) Avatar (Fox) Fox Int’l $8.1m $720.6m

6 (3) The Crazies (Overture) Paramount Vantage Int’l $7.1m $27.5m

7 (5) Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox) Fox Int’l $5.1m $78.1m

8 (6) Valentine’s Day (Warner Bros) WBPI $4.2m $106.3m

9 (10) Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight) SPRI $3.3m $29.5m

10 (7) Dear John (Screen Gems) Lionsgate $2.8m $76.6m