The Jackie Robinson biopic 42 made history this weekend, scoring the all-time highest domestic opening for a baseball movie. From 3,003 locations, the film earned an estimated $27.2 million, or $7.5 million more than 2006’s Benchwarmers, the former genre title-holder. In second place, Scary Movie 5 earned $15.1 million from 3,402 runs, or just 37% of what Scary Movie 4 took in on this same weekend seven years ago.

42 was the undisputed box office champ on Friday, earning an estimated $9.1 million from 3,003 locations. That puts the Jackie Robinson biopic on track for as much as $28 million through Sunday – a record opening for a baseball movie. From a box office perspective, America’s pastime has never been a huge draw. Benchwarmers set the genre record in 2006 with its $19.7 million debut and, in 2011, Moneyball was a close second with $19.5 million. 42 – the story of the man who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 – was not originally expected to top $20 million. But then positive reviews met a flood of nostalgic news-coverage and the rest, as they say, is history.

The debut of Scary Movie 5 was not-nearly as historic. From its debut in 3,402 locations, Scary Movie 5 earned an estimated $5.5 million. On this same weekend in 2006 Scary Movie 4 took in over $40 million; but after yesterday’s start, the fifth installment in the horror-spoof series won’t scare up half that amount.  We’ll have full details tomorrow.

With less than $300,000 separating the top three films this weekend, the final order of the domestic top ten has been difficult to call. Sunday’s estimates have End of Watch and House at the End of the Street tied for first with $13 million each. Warner Brother’s Trouble with the Curve is not far behind, however, so more definitive results will have to wait until Monday. One thing we can say for sure? Dredd 3D is off to a rough start.

Jack and Jill gained some ground on Saturday, though not enough to slay the Immortals.  The 3D action/fantasy film finished first with an estimated $32 million from 3,112 locations. Considering that the film’s distributor was expecting a top opening of $26 million that has to be seen as a win.  And even if the film’s total does look somewhat anemic compared to past 3D hits, with the year we’ve had I’d prefer to focus on the positive.

Once again, it looks like I was foolish to bet on Moneyball.  Blinded by the strong opening day of this long-time underdog, I completely forgot that last weekend’s champ would have a home field advantage on Saturday.  The final score put The Lion King 3D back on top and added another $22.1 million to the re-release’s lifetime stats.  Moneyball had to settle for second, though the estimates between it and the week’s newest family film, Dolphin Tale, are close enough that the baseball flick could conceivably fall to third by Monday.