3-D 'Lion King' feels the love with $29.3M opening

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's 1994 all over again, with a re-release of "The Lion King" opening at the top of the box office.

A 3-D version of the wildly popular Disney animated musical earned a surprising $29.3 million in its first weekend in theaters, according to Sunday estimates. The original film made more than $40 million when it opened nationwide 17 years ago.

This huge number stunned many people, including the folks at Disney, who figured "The Lion King" would make somewhere between $10 million and $12 million, said Dave Hollis, the studio's executive vice president of distribution.

He said the movie remains relevant and as entertaining as it was when it first came out. "But taking a page from the movie, there is a 'circle of life' thing happening," he said, referring to one of the film's themes. "You have children of the '90s who are now parents of the 2010s and they themselves are taking their kids to share what was, for them, a great experience two decades ago."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Lion King 3D," $29.3 million. ($700,000 international.)

2. "Contagion," $14.5 million. ($1.3 million international.)

3. "Drive," $11 million.

4. "The Help," $6.4 million. ($1.1 million international.)

5. "Straw Dogs," $5 million.

6. "I Don't Know How She Does It," $4.5 million. ($800,000 international.)

7. "The Debt," $2.9 million. ($1 million international.)

8. "Warrior," $2.8 million. ($400,000 international.)

9. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $2.6 million.

10. "Colombiana," $2.3 million.