DreamWorks Animation's 3D family release Monsters Vs Aliens stormed to the top of the North American charts through Paramount in a $58.2m three-day debut that marked the biggest launch of the year to date and delivered a ringing endorsement for the nascent digital 3D movement.

The opening was in line with what analysts had predicted and helped box office return to a positive outlook, climbing 39% on the same weekend last year.

The critical statistic here, according to early figures from DreamWorks Animation, was that the 2,080 3D screens accounted for roughly 56% of the film's overall box office from 7,300 screens.

Nobody will be happier about this than DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, who has been the most vocal and zealous advocate of the 3D revival and proclaimed back in 2007 that starting with Monsters Vs Aliens, all films released by his studio would be in 3D

However, the number of 3D screens across America is still relatively low. The ongoing debate between studios and exhibitors over who will finance the digital conversion of cinemas - which at roughly $70,000 per screen isn't cheap - has stymied efforts to upgrade the North American circuit.

Last December Katzenberg told a 3D summit in Los Angeles that he expected 2,500 screens would be 3D-ready by the time Monsters Vs Aliens opened. The deepening economic crisis postponed several plans, including one that involved JPMorgan Chase and a bid to convert 20,000 screens. Further updates are expected at ShoWest in Las Vegas this week.

The opening delivered more good news for IMAX as the big screen format reported a $5.2m gross that accounted for approximately 9% of the total and set a new 3D record for the circuit, beating the $4.2m IMAX screens took with Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix. The IMAX share averaged $36,300 across 143 screens

Monsters Vs Aliens stars the voice talents of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd.

Lionsgate's horror title The Haunting In Connecticut opened in second place on a highly respectable $23m, although the same could not be said for Fox' action release 12 Rounds starring former wrestler John Cena. It debuted in seventh place on $5.3m and could be out for the count.

A trio of films fared well in their second weekends. Last weekend's champion Knowing from Summit Entertainment dropped two spots to third place on $14.7m for $46.2m, while Buena Vista's family release Race To Witch Mountain ranks fourth on $36m and Universal/Relativity Media's crime caper Duplicity is fifth on $25.6m.

Watchmen, released through Warner Bros in North America, crossed $100m in its fourth weekend and ranks eighth on $103.3m, while Fox's runaway hit thriller Taken remains in the top ten in its ninth weekend and ranks ninth on $137.1m.

Next weekend's wide releases are: Universal/Relativity's action sequel Fast And Furious, the fourth entry in the street racing canon that marks the return of franchise originals Vin Diesel and Paul Walker; and Miramax' comedy Adventureland from Superbad director Greg Mottola starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart.

Estimated Top 10 North America (Mar 27-29, 2009)

Film (Dist)/Int'l dist/Est wkd gross/Est total to date

1 (-) Monsters Vs Aliens(Paramount) PPI $58.2m

2 (-) The Haunting In Connecticut (Lionsgate) $23m

3 (1) Knowing (Summit) Summit Int'l $14.7m $46.2m

4 (2) I Love You, Man (DreamWorks-Paramount) PPI $12.6m $37m

5 (3) Duplicity (Universal) Relativity Media $7.6m $25.6m

6 (4) Race To Witch Mountain(Buena Vista) WDSMPI $5.6m $53.3m

7 (-) 12 Rounds (Fox) Fox Int'l $5.3m

8 (5) Watchmen (Warner Bros) PPI $2.8m $103.3m

9 (7) Taken (Fox) Fox Int'l $2.7m $137.1m

10 (6) The Last House On The Left (Rogue) UPI $2.6m $28.5m

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