'The Smurfs' have surprised 'Cowboys & Aliens' and nearly everyone else by tying for the top spot at the weekend box office.
Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford's sci-fi Western may have been ready to battle aliens but the film certainly wasn't prepared for the tiny blue fictional creatures made famous by the '80s cartoon.
Both films earned $36.2 million, according to initial studio estimates.
We won't know which movie ended up on top until final numbers are released on Monday, but the 'The Smurfs' will win no matter which way it turns out.
Going into the weekend, 'Cowboy's had been expected to top $40 million with 'Smurfs' barely touching the $30 million mark.
'Cowboy's, featuring Craig and Ford alongside director Jon Favreau, cost a reported $163 million to make, while 'The Smurfs' cost $110 million.
Meanwhile, the weekend's other new wide release 'Crazy, Stupid, Love' opened in fifth with $19.3 million.
'Captain America: The First Avenger', last week's chart topper, dropped to third with $24.9 million and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' followed with $21.9 million.
See a complete rundown of the weekend box office below:
1. Cowboys & Aliens, $36.2 million. 1. The Smurfs, $36.2 million. 3. Captain America: The First Avenger, $24.9 million. 4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, $21.9 million. 5. Crazy, Stupid, Love, $19.3 million. 6. Friends with Benefits, $9.3 million. 7. Horrible Bosses, $7.1 million. 8. Transformers: Dark of the Moon, $6 million. 9. Zookeeper, $4.2 million. 10. Cars 2, $2.3 million.
UPDATE:
'Cowboys & Aliens' has come out ahead in the final numbers, but just barely ($36.4 million vs. $35.6 million).
'The Smurfs' have surprised 'Cowboys & Aliens' and nearly everyone else by tying for the top spot at the weekend box office.
