Steven Spielberg's version of H.G. Wells' science fiction classic War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise overcame stout action picture competition from Batman Begins and Mr. & Mrs. Smith as well as the outsized antics of its star to annihilate the competition over the four-day Fourth of July holiday weekend, earning an estimated $77.6 million. 

Spielberg's film posted the second best Fourth of July opening ever, though its six-day total of $113.2 million was far below Spider-Man 2's mammoth $180 million performance over the same time frame last year. 

For the nineteenth straight week the total box office take fell below that of 2004 and Spider-Man 2's stellar opening wasn't the only problem -- films from #2 through #9 earned 15% less in 2005 than they did in 2004.  Though it was no Spider-Man 2, War of the Worlds managed to average a lusty $16,511 per location over the three-day weekend and demonstrated a strong appeal to all age groups with half its audience over 25.  WOTW also did fairly well (for an action film) with females, drawing a 47% distaff audience overall.  But Spielberg's film will have a difficult time repeating as box office champion next week with the Fantastic Four opening on Friday.

Meanwhile Batman Begins continues to chug along in the face of stiff competition, dropping only 43% over the 3-day weekend and running its cumulative to an impressive $154.1 million at the end of 4-day holiday.  Batman Begins has also performed well internationally and has now earned an estimated $268 million worldwide.  However comic book-inspired competition from the Fantastic Four could create a more decisive drop-off next weekend as Marvel and DC go head-to-head at the box office for the first time.

Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle lost 15 theaters and its box office take declined 20.7% to an estimated $461,000.  Miyazaki's film has now earned $3.3 million, but its per theater average is down and unless it opens in some new markets it appears headed for a $4 million total.