Blue Sky Studios' new CGI feature Robots easily topped the weekend box office chart, bringing in an estimated $36 million, but fell far short of the March opening record of $46.3 million set in 2002 by Ice Age, which was also directed by Blue Sky's Chris Wedge. 

The somewhat disappointing performance was also well behind the $47.6 million opening weekend of Dreamwork's Shark Tale last October, but given the 'legs' demonstrated by CGI comedy features from Shrek to The Incredibles, and the quality of its animation and vocal cast (Robin Williams, Ewan McGregor, Mel Brooks & Halle Berry), Robots may yet end up challenging Ice Age's cumulative total of $176 million.  But given the somewhat disappointing performance of The Polar Express CGI feature during the past holiday season, the fate of Robots bears watching to see if the previously unstoppable 3D animation juggernaut may finally be showing some chinks in its armor.

Meanwhile comedies continued to do well -- The Pacifier starring Vin Diesel dropped only 41% finishing second in its second week as it sucked in an estimated $18 million and brought its cumulative to $54 million.  In its fifth week of release Hitch, which features Will Smith, finished in fifth place adding nearly $9 million and bringing its total to nearly $150 million.  Perhaps the dearth of quality sitcoms on the small screen is driving audiences to seek them out at the local multiplex.

Constantine, which is based on the DC Comics/Vertigo comic book series, slipped to eighth place earning an estimated $3.65 million and bringing its cumulative to $66.3 million after four weeks.  It should end its domestic run in the vicinity of $75 million.