Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo:
American Gangster came out blazing with an estimated $46.3 million weekend, while Bee Movie had less sting in second…..
Pamela McClintock of Variety:
Universal's Denzel Washington-Russell Crowe starrer "American Gangster" smacked the weekend box office, becoming the highest grossing R-rated crime-drama in history. Pollination of DreamWorks Animation's "Bee Movie" combined to give the film biz its first honey-sweet frame in nearly two months.
Directed by Ridley Scott and produced by Imagine Entertainment, "Gangster" grossed an estimated $46.3 million from 3,054 locations, outpacing expectations and easily beating "Bee" for the No. 1 spot. It's the best opening for both Crowe and Washington, as well as the highest opener of the fall to date.
"Bee Movie" -- voiced, co-written and produced by Jerry Seinfeld -- still had plenty to buzz about, debuting at $39.1 million from 3,928 theaters, a solid opening, but somewhat behind what DreamWorks Animation-Paramount had hoped for. Toon, coming in No. 2 for the weekend, is Seinfeld's first major outing since his hit television series.
Thesp did plenty of tub-thumping for "Bee," whose bow came in just behind "Chicken Little," which bowed at $40 million in November 2005, and "Happy Feet," which opened at $41.5 million last November.
New Line's John Cusack starrer "Martian Child"--the weekend's only other wide opener--couldn't find much rocket power, grossing an estimated $3.6 million from 2,020 runs. Drama, about a widow who adopts a boy who thinks he is from Mars, placed No. 7.
Taking No. 3 was Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures' holdover "Saw IV," which declined 65% in its second frame to an estimated $11 million from 3,183 runs for a cume of $51 million.
Also in its second frame, Disney's offbeat laffer "Dan in Real Life" nabbed the No. 4 spot, declining 31% to an estimated $8.1 million from 1,925 theaters for a cume of $22.2 million.
Sony's vampire horror title "30 Days of Night" declined 42% in its third frame to $4 million from 2,627 locations for a cume of $34.2 million. Pic placed No. 5.
Among wide awards contenders, Warner Bros.' George Clooney starrer "Michael Clayton" and Miramax's "Gone Baby Gone" remained on the top 10 list.
"Clayton," showing particular stamina, placed No. 8 in its fifth frame. Legal drama-thriller declined 41% to an estimated $2.9 million from 2,107 theaters for a cume of $33.2 million.
"Gone Baby," directed by Ben Affleck, declined 37% in its third frame to an estimated $2.4 million from 1,617 locations for a cume of $15 million.
Lionsgate's "Why Did I Get Married?" came in No. 9. Pic, from multi-hyphenate Tyler Perry, declined 52% in its fourth frame to an estimated $2.7 million from 1,403 engagements for a cume of $51.1 million.
Disney's family laffer "The Game Plan" continued to score as well, coming in No. 6 in its sixth frame. Title declined just 37% to an estimated $3.8 million from 2,844 locations for a cume of $81.9 million, by far the highest grossing film of the fall...
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Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly:
''American Gangster'' kicks off Hollywood's awards season with a $46.3 million opening weekend...
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