‘Mexican,’ ‘Spot’ Push ‘Hannibal’ to No. 3

Over the weekend at movie theaters, the mob comedy “The Mexican” and the gross-out comedy “See Spot Run” knocked “Hannibal” from the No. 1 spot after three weeks.

The mob comedy, starring Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini of HBO’s “The Sopranos,” premiered with $20.3 million, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

“See Spot Run” overcame generally harsh reviews to premiere in second place with $10.2 million.

“Hannibal” slipped to third place, with $10.1 million.

The overall box office was up again, with the top 12 movies grossing $76 million--a 29% increase from the same weekend last year. Theater revenues have be up every weekend this year.

Despite mixed reviews, “The Mexican” averaged a solid $6,879 per theater, playing in 2,951 cinemas, compared with $3,840 at 2,656 locations for “See Spot Run.”

Pitt plays a hapless mob gofer dispatched to Mexico to retrieve a priceless antique pistol. Roberts, his high-strung girlfriend, is kidnapped by Gandolfini, who has an interesting secret.

It was the third straight first-place premiere for Roberts, after “Erin Brockovich” and “Runaway Bride.”

“What this shows is that this woman almost can do no wrong. Comedy, serious roles, she pulls people in,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. “I think people would go to see Julia Roberts no matter what.”

“Back when we first read the script, we would have been happy with $20 million total in box office,” said Jim Tharp, head of distribution for DreamWorks, which released “The Mexican.”

Families with young children made up most of the audience for “See Spot Run.” David Arquette stars as a mailman baby-sitting a drug-sniffing dog that has been targeted for a mob hit.

“See Spot Run” audiences also got a bonus. Distributor Warner Bros. provided the first trailer for “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” one of this fall’s most anticipated movies.

Several new movies did well in limited release. “The Caveman’s Valentine,” a thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson as a schizophrenic tracking a murderer, took in $124,000 at 16 theaters in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, averaging $7,750 per cinema.

The film, directed by Kasi Lemmons of “Eve’s Bayou,” expands to 35 theaters in about 10 markets next weekend.

“Series 7,” a satire of staged, unscripted television shows in which “contestants” are given guns to hunt one another, grossed $32,000 in two theaters in New York City and Los Angeles. The film expands to more cities in mid-March.

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Estimated Weekend Grosses in Millions

1. “The Mexican”: $20.3

2. “See Spot Run”: $10.2

3. “Hannibal”: $10.1

4. “Down to Earth”: $8

5. “Crouching Tiger . . .”: $4.9

6. “Traffic”: $4.5

7. “Chocolat”: $4.2

8. “Recess: School’s Out”: $3.9

9. “3000 Miles to Graceland”: $3

10. “Sweet November”: $2.5