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In one corner this Memorial Day weekend was the sequel to a blockbuster and first major family comedy event in two months, and, in the other, the latest entry in a faded action franchise, emerging from a six-year dormancy and lacking its most iconic figure. It was clear which picture would gross more, and, while both may ultimately pale compared to their predecessors, they each did about as well as could reasonably be expected.Ben StillerArnold Schwarzenegger

On Friday, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian drew an estimated $15.3 million on approximately 7,000 screens at 4,096 venues to lead the day, and it's a lock to top Memorial Day weekend as a whole. The start was a bit higher than Night at the Museum's first day, which came in at $12.1 million on around 4,800 screens at 3,685 venues. However, that first movie opened at Christmastime, a period when box office isn't as concentrated on a single day as it is in May. In other words, a $12 million day near Christmas means more in the long run than a $15 million day in May. Battle of Smithsonian's opening day was also a tad lower than past Memorial opener Madagascar's, adjusted for ticket price inflation. Still, based on past comparable titles, the picture is on course for a four-day weekend haul in the vicinity of $66 million, a tally that the first movie took six days to pass.

In its Thursday opening, Terminator Salvation raked in $13.4 million on approximately 6,500 screens at 3,480 sites. The figure included an estimated $3 million from midnight showings. While solid, the sci-fi action sequel wasn't quite as robust out-of-gate as the last two Terminator movies in terms of attendance.

While Mona Lisa might frown at the more earthly sum, The Da Vinci Code sequel Angels & Demons uncovered a spirited $46.2 million on approximately 7,000 screens at 3,527 sites, leading the weekend ahead of a storming Star Trek. Overall weekend business rang in at more than $137 million, which was a four percent improvement over the same weekend last year but not among the best showings for the timeframe. Tom HanksMatthew McConaugheyJennifer AnistonAdrien Brody

On Friday, Angels & Demons debuted to an estimated $16.6 million on approximately 7,000 screens at 3,527 sites. As the sequel to The Da Vinci Code and the sole new nationwide release, it easily charted first for the day, selling about as many tickets as the first days of National Treasure: Book of Secrets and Red Dragon. However, it paled next to Da Vinci's $28.6 million opening day back in May 2006, and that National Treasure sequel played at Christmastime when initial grosses point to higher overall totals than they do in May. If Angels & Demons' weekend plays out like past similar movies, it will wind up with around $45 million, a far cry from Da Vinci Code's $77.1 million.

Seeking out new life for the series, Star Trek commanded a stellar $75.2 million on approximately 7,400 screens at 3,849 sites over the weekend (plus an estimated $4 million from Thursday night previews). Paramount Pictures' Star Wars-like treatment of Gene Roddenberry's science fiction franchise resulted in the biggest Trek opening yet, soaring past the previous high of Star Trek: First Contact, which started at $30.7 million or the equivalent of over $50 million adjusted for ticket price inflation. J.J. AbramsMatthew McConaughey

On Friday, Star Trek blasted off with an estimated $26.8 million on approximately 7,400 screens at 3,849 sites (which included 138 IMAX venues). Counting an estimated $4 million* from Thursday night previews, the tally is $30.8 million in effectively a day and a half, according to distributor Paramount Pictures. Unadjusted, that's more than any previous Star Trek movie grossed in an entire opening weekend, edging out Star Trek: First Contact's $30.7 million. Matthew McConaughey

With a brawny debut, X-Men Origins: Wolverine ushered in the summer movie season, though overall business was slightly lower than the same weekend last year. The weekend also saw a disappointing opening for the latest Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy and a pitiful start for a computer-animated environmentalist tract. Reese WitherspoonMark WatersJennifer Garner

On Friday, X-Men Origins: Wolverine kicked off the summer movie season with an estimated $35 million on approximately 8,300 screens at 4,099 locations. That ranks as the 16th highest-grossing opening day ever (and 22nd when ticket-price inflation is factored). The gross includes nearly $5 million from its first midnight shows at around 2,000 sites. Matthew McConaughey

Obsessed clawed its way to the top of the weekend box office with a fierce $28.6 million, or nearly as much as the debuts of Fighting, The Soloist and Earth combined. Overall, the weekend was among the most attended ever for the end of April, and business surged 25 percent over the same timeframe last year. BeyoncéChanning TatumJamie FoxxRobert Downey Jr.

On Friday, Obsessed attracted an estimated $11.1 million on approximately 3,000 screens at 2,514 sites, which points to a weekend in the vicinity of $30 million. That would be one of the biggest debuts ever for a Fatal Attraction-type picture or an erotic thriller. Obsessed's opening day alone nearly matched the first weekend grosses of comparable titles Perfect Stranger and SwimFan.

Success for the latest "what if?" comedy became a reality. 17 Again enrolled $23.7 million to lead a solid weekend at the box office. Overall business was up 15 percent from the same timeframe last year and maintained April's blistering pace relative to past Aprils. Zac EfronRussell CroweSeth Rogen

On Friday, 17 Again drew an estimated $9.5 million on approximately 4,200 screens at 3,255 theaters. That was a bigger opening day than the last major body switch comedy 13 Going on 30, which began with $7.4 million at 3,438 sites back in April 2004. 17 Again also made more in a single day than the similarly-titled and themed 18 Again from 1988. If it follows the pattern of previous movies of its ilk, it will wind up with a $25 million plus weekend. Jason Statham

Moviegoers ponied up a sizable $32.3 million for Hannah Montana The Movie over the weekend, marking the second-highest grossing Easter debut ever behind Scary Movie 4. Hannah combined with Fast and Furious and Monsters Vs. Aliens led to the second busiest April weekend on record, behind last weekend, and a 40 percent bump in overall business from the same timeframe last year. Seth Rogen

Hannah Montana The Movie debuted to great business on Good Friday, making an estimated $17.4 million on approximately 4,200 screens at 3,118 theaters. The Disney Channel adaptation edged out High School Musical 3: Senior Year, which opened to $17 million, and it blew past the first days of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour and {lnk39104}The Lizzie McGuire Movie{/lnk}. Due to the holiday and its eager fan base, Hannah Montana's weekend is likely to be highly front-loaded and is on track to nearly $40 million, based on the past performances of similar titles. Seth Rogen

At the foreign box office last weekend, the one-two punch of Monsters Vs. Aliens and Fast and Furious led to the first time in ten weeks that business was up over last year. Adam Sandler

Revving way past its predecessors' redlines, Fast and Furious generated $71 million over the weekend, summarily dusting Anger Management's $42.2 million to notch the biggest April debut ever. Driven by the action sequel, the weekend as a whole was the busiest on record for April, grossing over $155 million and surging 62 percent ahead of the same weekend last year. Paul WalkerVin Diesel

Fast and Furious charged to the top of the box office on Friday, grossing a massive estimated $30.1 million on approximately 5,200 screens at 3,461 sites. The fourth installment in the street-racing action franchise blew past the opening days of its predecessors, generating more business in a single day than the last movie, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, did in its entire first weekend.

The record-breaking pace of 2009 came to a halt in March. A relatively modest slate of new releases led to a $646 million total for the month, which was down more than five percent from last year. Prior to March, January and February posted all time high grosses of over $1 billion and $769 million, respectively. On the strength of January and February, the first quarter of 2009 hit an all time high for the timeframe, coming in at $2.4 billion. Business was up over nine percent from the same period last year.