‘Robots’ grabs top spot at box office

“Robots” ruled the weekend box office as the animated family flick debuted with an estimated $36.5 million – a solid opening, but well below the $46.3 million premiere of the filmmakers’ previous hit, “Ice Age.”

While “Ice Age” opened with little competition for the family crowd, “Robots” faced Vin Diesel’s hit “The Pacifier,” the previous weekend’s No. 1 movie. “The Pacifier” finished a strong second with $18.1 million, lifting its 10-day total to $54.4 million.

The weekend’s other new wide release, the Bruce Willis police thriller “Hostage,” debuted at No. 4 with $9.8 million, behind the John Travolta crime comedy “Be Cool” at $10.3 million.

Mel Gibson’s religious blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ,” which grossed $370 million last year, made barely a ripple at theaters in a recut version that toned down the blood and violence. “The Passion Recut” played in 957 theaters but took in just $239,850.