Eddie Murphy arrives at the premiere of Dreamworks' "Norbit"
© AFP/Getty Images/File Kevin WinterLOS ANGELES (AFP) - Murphy plays three roles in the movie, starring as a nerd who has met the love of his life but is married to an obese woman, also played by the actor.
Murphy has been nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "Dreamgirls," which was ninth at the box office with three million dollars, according to California-based box office tracker Media By Numbers.
The horror thriller "Hannibal Rising," about the teenage years of "Silence of the Lambs" cannibal Hannibal Lecter, was second with an estimated 13.4 million dollars.
The romantic comedy "Because I Said So," starring Diane Keaton as a mother trying to set up her daughter with the right man, dropped from second to third place with nine million dollars in its second week.
Last weekend's box office winner, the horror film "The Messengers," fell to fourth place with 7.2 million dollars.
Ben Stiller's hit comedy "Night at the Museum" was fifth with an estimated 5.8 million dollars, bringing its eight-week total to 232.1 million dollars.
The satire comedy "Epic Movie" was sixth with 4.5 million dollars, followed by the mob action flick "Smokin' Aces" with 3.8 million.
The fantasy adventure "Pan's Labyrinth" was eighth with 3.55 million dollars, ahead of "Dreamgirls."
Rounding out the top 12 were British royalty drama "The Queen" with 2.5 million dollars, dance drama "Stomp The Yard" with 2.4 million and Will Smith's drama "The Pursuit of Happyness" with" 2.4 million.
The 12 top movies combined grossed 91.3 million dollars, down 10.6 percent from the 102 million grossed by the top dozen films during the same period last year.
Ticket sales were up an estimated 28.6 percent from last weekend, however.
©AFP