Pixar’s Up earned an estimated $68.2 million as it soared past expectations to post the third largest Pixar opening ever, trailing just The Incredibles ($70.5 million) and Finding Nemo ($70.2 million).  Up managed a muscular $18,110 per location, a total that was boosted by 1,530 3D venues, where higher ticket prices translated into more than double the return generated by conventional screens.  According to Disney, a full 31% of the audience for Up was in the 2 to 11 age bracket, an indication that, in spite of its PG rating, this touching and humorous saga about a crotchety old man was playing to a very wide audience.

Weekend Box Office (Studio Estimates): May 29-31

Up’s performance is all the more remarkable since its chief competitor for the family audience, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian dropped just 52.9% in its second weekend and managed to pull in an estimated $25.5 million.  Museum has already brought in over $100 million and appears, like many comedies, to have considerable staying power at the box office.  But the same should be true of Up--with its phalanx of good reviews (98% positive on Rotten Tomatoes) and its rare “A+” CinemaScore from audiences, Up should demonstrate great “legs” over the coming weeks and end up as the highest-grossing animated film of 2009.

The future is not so rosy for Warner Bros.’ Terminator Salvation, which tumbled 62.1% during its sophomore session and brought in an estimated $16.1 million, not enough to hold off Spider-Man helmer Sam Raimi’s horror film, Drag Me to Hell.  Drag Me to Hell, which has also garnered stellar reviews, is that rare sort of horror film that may demonstrate considerable staying power at the box office.

Meanwhile J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, which has now been in theaters for nearly a month, keeps chugging along, earning an estimated $12.8 million as it became the first film of 2009 to pass the $200 million mark at the domestic box office.   Star Trek remains "the film to beat" in the 2009 box office race.  Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine is winding down its successful run, but it still managed to add nearly $4 million, which brings its domestic cumulative to $170 million.  It should finish with at least $180 million.

In spite of Up’s stellar opening, the total box office was down 1% from the same weekend last year when Sex and the City opened with $56.8 million and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull brought in $44.5 million during its second weekend.