Rango showed a small glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal box-office year so far, earning $38 million in its opening weekend (despite a $135 million production budget). That makes it the highest debut this year so far and the 10th highest March debut ever. As expected it was well ahead of the sci-fi romance The Adjustment Bureau, which rode Matt Damon‘s star power in the face of middling reviews to a $21 million first weekend.

Beastly rounded out the top three, earning $10.1 million. In forth, Hall Pass earned $9.1 million in it’s second weekend, bringing it to a somewhat disappointing $27 million total.  Take Me Home Tonight stumbled hard out of the gates, finishing outside of the top ten, earning $3.5 million.

Next weekend sees an eclectic trio of releases. Battle: Los Angeles, Mars Needs Moms, and Red Riding Hood are all getting wide releases.  With Battle: Los Angeles being the first “action blockbuster” of the year and Mars Needs Moms headed to IMAX, expect both to do well.

Check out the top 10 (movie- weekend; total)

1. Rango– $38,000,000; $38,000,000 (debut)

2. The Adjustment Bureau– $20,945,000; $20,945,000 (debut)

3. Beastly– $10,115,000; $10,115,000 (debut)

4. Hall Pass– $9,015,000; $27,001,000

5. Gnomeo and Juliet– $6,912,000; $83,694,000

6. Unknown– $6,620,000; $53,129,000

7. The King’s Speech– $6,501,000; $123,817,000

8. Just Go With It– $6,500,000; $88,200,000

9. I Am Number Four– $5,702,000; $46,440,000

10. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never– $4,325,000; $68,876,000

To what do you attribute the low numbers early on this year? What did you see this weekend?

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