Moviegoers shell out for Max Payne

Max Payne is bigger than George W. Bush.

That's one way to take this weekend's US box-office numbers, which show the big-screen adaptation of Take-Two Interactive's noir-ish shooter topping Oliver Stone's presidential biopic W. On the other hand, director Oliver Stone's W. garnered higher approval ratings than the critically lambasted game adaptation featuring Mark Wahlberg in the starring role.

The $18 million take from 20th Century Fox's Max Payne (as reported by Variety) put the film atop the weekend box-office heap, dethroning Beverly Hills Chihuahua after two weeks. Chihuahua landed in second place with $11.2 million, followed by new releases The Secret Life of Bees and W., which earned $11.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively.

Although respectable, the $18 million opening of Max Payne is not unprecedented for an adaptation from the world of games. Last November, 20th Century Fox scored another hit with the $20 million box-office debut of Hitman, whereas Sony Pictures racked up a $24 million opening weekend two months prior with Resident Evil: Extinction.