Wild Things Runs Rampant

Law Abiding Citizen also enjoys strong opening weekend

By Marie Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2009 1:48 PM CDT

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Wild Things Runs Rampant — In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros. Pictures, Max Records, portraying Max, right, is shown with the character Carol, voiced by James Gandolfini, in "Where the Wild Things Are." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Matt Nettheim)

Where the Wild Things Are ran wild at the weekend box office, exceeding expectations by doing $32.5 million worth of business. Spike Jonze's first foray into children's cinema earned the director his strongest opening weekend ever. "I can't imagine too many people who could do what Spike did," an exec with distributor Warner Bros. tells USA Today. The live-action adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic book topped Law Abiding Citizen, which also beat forecasts. The top five:

Where the Wild Things Are, $32.5 million
Law Abiding Citizen, $21.3 million
Paranormal Activity, $20.2 million
Couples Retreat, $17.9 million
The Stepfather, $12.3 million

(More Where the Wild Things Are stories.)

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