Weekend Box Office: 'Transformers' and 'Ice Age' tie for first with $42 million

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" appear to have tied for the 3-day holiday weekend.

Credit: Paramount Pictures/20th Century Fox

In the battle of the July 4th holiday weekend box office, both 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures are hoping to have something to crow about on Monday.

The studio's tentpoles, "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," battled back and forth over the 5-day holiday, but tied for the 3-day weekend (Friday-Sunday) with $42 million each.  That is,  until final estimates are revealed on Monday where it is assumed one or the other will pull ahead.  Since Wednesday, however, when "Ice Age" and fellow new release "Public Enemies" opened," the 3-D animated tale beat the robot blockbuster $67 to $65 million.  Don't cry for the Michael Bay sequel though, dismal reviews aside, "Revenge of the Fallen" has already grossed an amazing $293 million in only 12 days.

As for "Enemies," the Johnny Depp/Christian Bale thriller found its niche with $41 million over the 5-day holiday. This no doubt caused sighs of relief at Universal who were hoping for a big opening for the expensive Michael Bay period flick.  One thing is clear, Johnny Depp can still open a movie without being in a silly Pirate costume.

Also notable this weekend, "The Hangover" passed the magic $200 million mark, guaranteeing its one of the most profitable films of the year for Warner Bros.  Disney's "The Proposal" also had a fine weekend as its total reached $94.2 million.  The Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy should pass $100 million sometime this week.

Weekend estimates are provided by Box Office Mojo.  Final numbers will be released Monday.

1. "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," $42.5 million, $67 million to date.

2. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," 42.5 million, $293.4 million to date.

3. "Public Enemies," $26.1 million, $41 million to date.

4. "The Proposal," $12.7 million, $94.2 million to date.

5. "The Hangover," $10.4 million, $200.4 million to date.

6. "Up," $6.5 million, $264.8 million to date.

7. "My Sister's Keeper," $5.2 million, $25.9 million to date.

8. "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," $2.5 million, $58 million to date.

9. "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," $2.1 million, $167.7 million to date.

10. "Year One," $2.1 million, $38 million to date.