‘Earth’ sci-fi flick is No. 1

The science fiction remake The Day the Earth Stood Still opened strongly in U.S. theaters this weekend, grabbing the top spot, Box Office Mojo said Sunday.

The Day the Earth Stood Still, featuring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates and John Cleese, pulled in an estimated $31 million in gate receipts, compared with $13.27 million for Four Christmases, which had been No. 1 the previous two weeks and has a three-week total of nearly $88 million.

Twilight moved from second to third with $8.01 million, followed by Bolt at $7.51 million, Australia at $4.29 million and Quantum of Solace at $3.8 million for a five-week total of $157.7 million.

Another Christmas movie, Nothing Like the Holidays, about a Puerto Rican family facing what may be their last Christmas together in Chicago, came in at No. 7 with $3.5 million in estimated ticket sales. Rounding out the Top 10 were Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $3.25 million; Milk, Sean Penn’s portrayal of slaying gay San Francisco city official Harvey Milk, up from 11th last week with $2.64 million; and Transporter 3, $2.25 million