Horton Hears a Who matched expectations over the weekend with an estimated $45.1 million, according to Sunday studio estimates. That's the biggest opening of the year so far, although, even with the benefit of inflation, it is a little down on the debut numbers for Ice Age, which opened on this weekend in 2002. Never Back Down had a less auspicious beginning, with an estimated $8.6 million in 2,729 theaters, enough to take third place behind a relatively strong 10,000 B.C., which was down 54% to $16.4 million. Doomsday disappointed with $4.7 million and seventh place, just behind a strong second week showing from The Bank Job, which fell just 17% to $4.9 million.

- Weekend Estimates

Date posted: 2008-03-16