“Bringing Down the House” led the box office for the third straight weekend, but the overall numbers dropped significantly during the first weekend of the war in Iraq.

The top 12 films grossed an estimated $83.9 million — a 29 percent drop from the same weekend a year ago.

“I think the war has impacted people’s desire to go out to the movies. I think people were at home with their families,” said Rick Sands of Miramax, which released “View from the Top,” a slapstick airline comedy starring Gwyneth Paltrow that debuted at No. 4. “They were watching the news and not a lot of movies did a lot of business.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters were:

1. “Bringing Down the House,” $16.2 million.

2. “Dreamcatcher,” $15.3 million.

3. “Agent Cody Banks,” $9.3 million.

4. “View from the Top,” $7.6 million.

5. “The Hunted,” $6.6 million.

6. “Chicago,” $6.2 million.

7. “Piglet’s Big Movie,” $6.1 million.

8. “Tears of the Sun,” $4.5 million.

9. “Old School,” $4 million.

10. “Boat Trip,” $3.7 million.