'Ice Age 3' ties 'Transformers 2' at No.1 with $42.5 million

July 6, 9:20 AMDenver Movies ExaminerErik Buckman

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'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' (C) 20th Century Fox

As predicted, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs was a huge draw for families looking for a pleasant escape during the Fourth of July weekend. Unpredictably, the 3-D family-friendly film tied the box office crown with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at $42.5 million. According to Gitesh Pandya, editor of New York-based boxofficeguru.com, the tie “is shocking because we rarely see that in this business. If anything, one studio may tack on a bit extra to come out on top on Monday."

Ice Age has done well with a domestic gross of $67 million in five days in what has been a box office boon in ticket sales. Year-to-date receipts rose to $5.44 billion, 11.6 percent more than a year ago during this tent-pole-heavy summer movie season, according to Hollywood.com.

Michael Bay's critically panned Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has become 2009's biggest movie, nabbing $293 million since its opening on June 24th. While Ice Age 3 has matched Paramount's mighty money-machine, its only true competition will come via another tale from the boy wizard in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due out July 15th.

Meanwhile, Michael Mann's Public Enemies earned $26.2 million, giving it a five-day gross of $41 million. Not bad for a film that doesn't have aliens, robots, wizards or is shown in 3-D. "Fans of the adult film can rejoice," said Universal marketing executive Adam Fogelson. "In the midst of all this lovely, wonderful pure popcorn fare, there is an audience for what is not only an entertaining movie but also has higher artistic aspirations."

America, here is your top ten:

• *Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - $42.5 million
• *Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - $42.5 million
• Public Enemies - $26.2 million
• The Proposal - $12.8 million
• The Hangover - $10.4 million
• Up - $6.6 million
• My Sister's Keeper - $5.3 million
• The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 - $2.5 million
• *Year One - $2.1 million
• *Night at the Museum 2 - $2.1 million

*Tied