It looks like Liam Neeson's globe-trotting efforts to pin down the correct feline sensibilities for his role in "Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" were not in vain. Neeson recently told MTV News that he traveled to Africa to observe real-life lions to help craft his portrayal of a CGI jungle monarch in the fantasy flick, and when the film hit theaters Friday it ruled the box office. The third installment in the series opened at the top spot, picking up $8.2 million.
Behind "Narnia" is another hotly anticipated debut: Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp's Europe-based caper "The Tourist." Even though Jolie's large brood teased her "funny" accent in the flick, the camera-friendly A-listers' thriller arrived in theaters in second place. The film, which also features Paul Bettany and Timothy Dalton, kicked off the weekend with $6.1 million.
The animated family-friendly flick "Tangled" continued to nab moviegoers at the box office. Disney's reimagining of the classic fairy tale "Rapunzel," which features the vocal talents of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, raked in $3.4 million at the box office. Friday's haul pushes the film's total estimated gross to $104 million.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" added a few coins to its already stuffed bank on Friday, coming in fourth place. The latest flick in the blockbuster wizard saga pulled in $2.4 million, a figure which nudges the "Potter" tally to around $251 million.
"Unstoppable" still pumped along in theaters, coming in fifth place on Friday. Denzel Washington and Chris Pine's locomotive thriller rang up around $1.2 million in ticket receipts as it entered the weekend. The film's total estimated gross now stands at about $71 million.
Check out everything we've got on "Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of Dawn Treader,""The Tourist" and "Tangled."
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