By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Time Machine," an adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi novel, clocked in at the top of the North American box office, according to weekend estimates issued on Sunday.

The time travel saga, directed by Wells' great-grandson and panned by critics, grossed $22.5 million in its first three days of release beginning March 8.

Pre-release tracking data indicated the movie would make about $15 million in the opening weekend, said Jim Tharp, head of distribution at DreamWorks, the film's North American distributor. AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros has overseas distribution rights.

Tharp attributed the buoyant opening to the family friendly PG-13 rating, the H.G. Wells imprimatur and the budding stardom of Australian actor Guy Pearce, who plays inventor Alexander Hartdegen. The core audience of young males and sci-fi fans was evidently undeterred by the film's critical pasting. The Wall Street Journal described it as "joyless and largely witless."

One other film opened in wide release, bolstered by slightly better reviews, the action-comedy "All About the Benjamins," starring rapper Ice Cube. The crime caper bowed at No. 3 with $10.1 million.

Ice Cube (born O'Shea Jackson), who plays a bail bondsman on the trail of diamond thieves, co-wrote and co-produced the film. The movie, released by AOL Time Warner's New Line Cinema, was reportedly budgeted at between $13 million and $15 million.

Last weekend's box office champ, the Mel Gibson Vietnam War drama "We Were Soldiers," slipped to No. 2 with $14.5 million, a drop of 29 percent. The film's 10-day total rose to $40.8 million, and it could end its run with close to $100 million, said a spokeswoman for the film's distributor, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures.

'40 DAYS,' 'JOHN Q' ROUND OUT TOP FIVE

Rounding out this weekend's top five, each down two places, were "40 Days and 40 Nights" (Walt Disney Co.'s Miramax Films) and "John Q" (New Line).

"40 Days and 40 Nights," a comedy starring Josh Hartnett as a jilted lover who gives up sex for the titular period, earned $7.1 million -- off 42 percent -- as its 10-day total rose to $22.9 million. "John Q," a hostage drama starring Denzel Washington, pulled in $6 million, taking its 24-day total to $59.1 million.

With two weeks until the Academy Awards (news - web sites), two of the leading Oscar contenders held steady in the lower reaches of the top 10. "A Beautiful Mind," whose chances were boosted by Ron Howard's victory at the Directors Guild of America awards Saturday night, ranked No. 8 with $3.9 million, as its total rose to $144.3 million. The film was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Vivendi Universal SA .

Leading nominee "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (New Line) was No. 10 at the box office. Its weekend tally of $2.6 million propelled its haul to $291.1 million. "Rings" has 13 nominations, while "Mind" has eight, tied with "Moulin Rouge," which is available on home video.

"The Time Machine" and "All About the Benjamins" pushed two pop-star vehicles out of the top 10, Britney Spears' "Crossroads" and Aaliyah's "Queen of the Damned." "Crossroads" (Paramount) fell two places to No. 11 with $2.5 million and a 24-day total of $34.3 million. "Queen of the Damned" (Warner Bros.) slid six places to No. 12 with $2.3 million and a 17-day total of $27.9 million.

The top 12 films grossed $83.7 million, according to box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. That's up 2 percent from last weekend, and up 34 percent from the year-ago period when "The Mexican" was tops for a second weekend.

New releases next weekend include the horror film "Resident Evil," the animated "Ice Age" and the Robert De Niro/Eddie Murphy comedy "Showtime."

The top movies in North America -- March 8-10

Mon Mar 11, 6:20 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Following are the final data for the top 10 movies at the North American box office during the March 8-10 weekend, according to studio figures released Monday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

Film Three-day Cumulative

Title Gross Gross

1. The Time Machine .......... $22,610,437

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $22,610,437

2. We Were Soldiers .......... $14,208,525

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $40,552,286

3. All About the Benjamins .......... $10,007,291

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $10,007,291

4. 40 Days and 40 Nights .......... $7,033,952

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $22,825,390

5. John Q. .......... $5,924,783

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $59,016,204

6. Return to Never Land .......... $4,459,520

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $41,503,840

7. Dragonfly .......... $4,023,320

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $24,844,780

8. A Beautiful Mind .......... $3,872,880

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $144,274,651

9. Big Fat Liar .......... $3,484,315

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $43,306,710

10. The Lord of the Rings .......... $2,683,317

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $291,149,457

Reuters/Variety

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