Coens on fire at the movies this weekend

LOS ANGELES -- Joel and Ethan Coen scored their biggest opener to date by raking in $19.4 million in ticket sales for "Burn After Reading" and helping end a seven-week attendance slide at theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Their Oscar credentials and the star-studded cast including Brad Pitt, George Clooney and John Malkovich combined to make "Burn After Reading" a hit, said Jack Foley, president of distribution for Focus Features.

"The Coens have broken into more commercial territory with this film," Foley said. "They've become more of a household name."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. "Burn After Reading," $19.4 million

2. "Tyler Perry's The Family that Preys," $18.0 million

3. "Righteous Kill," $16.5 million

5. "The House Bunny," $4.3 million

6. "Tropic Thunder," $4.2 million

7. "The Dark Knight," $4.0 million

8. "Bangkok Dangerous," $2.4 million

9. "Traitor," $2.1 million