MOVIEGOERS SPEND $35 MILLION ON THE EXPENDABLES

Men found Lionsgate’s The Expendables quite spendable this weekend as they plunked down an estimated $35 million to see it — at the high end of analysts’ expectations. Women, meanwhile, entered separate doors at the cineplex to see Sony’s Eat Pray Love, spending $23.7 million for tickets. A third new release, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, wound up as yet another loser for Universal with just $10.5 million, to wind up in fifth place. It was beaten out by Sony’s The Other Guys, which placed third with $18 million, as well as Warner Bros.’ unstoppable Inception, which took fourth place with $11.4 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo: 1. The Expendables, $35 million; 2. Eat Pray Love, $23.7 million; 3. The Other Guys, $18 million; 4. Inception, $11.4 million; 5. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, $10.5 million; 6. Despicable Me, $6.8 million; 7. Step Up 3D, $6.6 million; 8. Salt, $6.4 million; 9. Dinner for Schmucks, $6.3 million; 10. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, $4.1 million.

UPDATE:
Final tally: The Top Five:
1. The Expendables, $34,825,135
2. Eat Pray Love, $23,104,523
3. The Other Guys,, $17,408,501
4. Inception, $11,285,051
5. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, $10,609,795