Disney's 'Chihuahua' is leader of the pack

LOS ANGELES - "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was barking up the right tree with moviegoers, who put the Disney comedy at No. 1 for the weekend with a $29 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Featuring a talking Chihuahua with Drew Barrymore's voice, the family flick about a pampered pooch lost in Mexico led a surge of new movies that boosted Hollywood business, which generally has slumped the past two months. The top 12 movies hauled in $95.4 million, up 42 percent from the same weekend a year ago.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, the DreamWorks-Paramount thriller "Eagle Eye," slipped to second place with $17.7 million, raising its total to $54.6 million.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," $29 million

2. "Eagle Eye," $17.7 million

3. "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," $12 million

5. "Appaloosa," $5 million

6. "Lakeview Terrace," $4.5 million

7. "Burn After Reading," $4.08 million

8. "Fireproof," $4.07 million

9. "An American Carol," $3.8 million