'10,000 B.C'. clubs its way to the top spot with $35.7m, March 7-9, 2008

Well groomed cavepeople clubbed audiences over the head this weekend, as Roland Emmerich's prehistoric epic 10,000 B.C. crushed everyone in its path with an estimated $35.7 million debut. Averaging a hefty $10,478 in 3,410 theaters, the $105 million budgeted Warner Bros. release totaled more than the rest of the top five combined, shrugging off some of the worst reviews of the year (just 8% of critics polled by Rottentomatoes.com gave the film a recommendation rating). EI's Scott Mantz had this to say about the movie: "The good news for director Roland Emmerich ('Independence Day,' 'The Day After Tomorrow') is that '10,000 B.C.' is the funniest movie of his career. The bad news is that it’s not supposed to be a comedy."

Camilla Belle as sexy cavewoman.
source: MovieWeb - Movie Photos, Videos & More

While the big budget caveman pic opened in the top spot, it was a far cry from the studio's juggernaut of last March, 300, which debuted with an epic $70.9 million on its way to $210 million domestically. Overseas 10,000 B.C. dominated the box office $25.3 million, pushing its worldwide cume to a mammoth $61 million.

Widely ridiculed for its sexy pinup cavewoman (Camilla Belle) and historically inaccurate use of mammals, the prehistoric guy-saves-girl debut fell well short of Emmerich's last big budget foray The Day After Tomorrow. That film debuted in May of 2004 with $68.7 million, on its way to $186.7 million domestically.

Disney's family pic College Road Trip debuted in second with an estimated $14 million, averaging a solid $5,174 from 2,706 theaters. The film stars Martin Lawrence and The Disney Channel's Raven-Symoné.

Sony's action thriller Vantage Point continued to stretch its long legs, falling just 42% to an estimated $7.5 million. In three weeks, the ensemble thriller has grossed an impressive $51.7 million.

Will Ferrell's basketball comedy Semi-Pro fell a disastrous 62% to an estimated $5.8 million in fourth, bringing its ten-day take to a disappointing $24.7 million. Look for the New Line release to end its theatrical run with just $32-35 million, which would make it the worst grossing starring role of Ferrell's career in nearly a decade.

Rounding out the top five was Lionsgate's well-reviewed heist flick The Bank Job, which debuted with $5.7 million. Averaging just $3,562 in 1,603 theaters, the opening was one of the lowest of Jason Statham's quickly dissipating movie career.

Debuting outside of the top ten was Amy Adams's Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which took in $2.5 million in 11th place. The Focus Features release averaged $4,749 in 535 theaters.