By Franck Tabouring

Weekend of March 14 - 16

“Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who” tramped to the top of the North American box office this weekend with $45.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Released by 20th Century Fox and directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, the computer-animated family film features the voice of Jim Carrey as an eccentric elephant who struggles to protect a microscopic community living on a speck of dust.

Last week’s box office champion “10,000 B.C.” slipped to No. 2, collecting $16.4 million from ticket sales at 3,410 locations. Roland Emmerich’s prehistoric epic, which follows the adventures of a mammoth hunter traveling to the end of the world to secure the future of his tribe, lifted its domestic total to $61.2 million after a strong two-week run.

New entry “Never Back Down” debuted in third place this weekend with $8.6 million. Summit Entertainment’s action spectacle directed by Jeff Wadlow tells the story of a rebellious teenager who gets thrust into the world of underground mixed martial arts.

Meanwhile, Walt Disney’s family comedy “College Road Trip” tumbles to No. 4, taking home $7.8 million. The Roger Kumble-directed film, which stars Martin Lawrence as an overprotective father who takes his daughter (Raven-Saymone) on a road trip, reached a cumulative gross of $24.2 million after two weeks in release.

At No. 5, Pete Travis’ terrorism thriller “Vantage Point” pulled in $5.4 million from 2,761 sites. Starring Dennis Quaid as a Secret Service agent who tries to uncover the truth behind an assassination attempt on the U.S. president, the film lifted its total haul to $59.2 million after a solid four-week run.

Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s crime thriller “The Bank Job” ranked in sixth this weekend, picking up $4.9 million. Starring Jason Statham as the leader of a gang of amateur robbers, the Roger Donaldson-directed film brought its domestic total to $13.3 million.

Universal’s new entry “Doomsday” opened at No. 7 with $4.7 million. Directed by Neil Marshall, the action adventure follows a commanding officer ordered to investigate the causes of a deadly virus that is threatening to destroy London.

Down from No. 5 to N. 8, New Line Cinema’s sports comedy “Semi-Pro” brought in $3 million, while “The Other Boleyn Girl” earned $2.9 million in ninth place.

Paramount’s family adventure “The Spiderwick Chronicles” rounded out the top ten with $2.3 million. The Mark Waters-directed film about three siblings who must protect a magical book from the claws of a ruthless ogre lifted its cumulative gross to $ 65.4 million after five weeks in release.

Exiting the top ten list this weekend were Doug Liman’s thriller “Jumper” with a $75 million domestic total, and Bharat Nalluri‘s “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” with a total haul of $5.3 million. 

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)