‘Prestige’ has magic touch to draw largest audiences

Los Angeles ? The magic act “The Prestige” debuted as the weekend’s No. 1 movie with $14.8 million, outperforming Clint Eastwood’s World War II saga, which opened at No. 3 with $10.2 million.

Holding strong in second place was Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed,” which took in $13.7 million and raised its three-week total to $77.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The previous weekend’s No. 1 movie, Sony’s horror sequel “The Grudge 2,” tumbled to fifth-place with $7.7 million, lifting its 10-day total to $31.4 million.

Among other new movies, 20th Century Fox’s family film “Flicka” tied “The Grudge 2” for No. 5 with $7.7 million. Based on the children’s book “My Friend Flicka,” the movie stars Alison Lohman as a teen who adopts a wild mustang.

Sony’s “Marie Antoinette,” with Kirsten Dunst in director Sofia Coppola’s chronicle of the 18th century queen beheaded during the French Revolution, premiered at No. 8 with $5.3 million.

Eastwood’s last two movies, 2003’s crime drama “Mystic River” and 2004’s Academy Awards champ “Million Dollar Baby,” both debuted in a handful of theaters.

The debut for “Flags of Our Fathers” was in line with the first wide-release weekends for those films, $10.4 million for “Mystic River” and $12.3 million for “Million Dollar Baby.”

“I don’t think it was a movie that was destined to make a huge opening-weekend splash,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. “‘Flags’ is a film that definitely has more appeal to older audiences, so I think over time, it’ll do well.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.:

1. “The Prestige,” $14.8 million.

2. “The Departed,” $13.7 million.

3. “Flags of Our Fathers,” $10.2 million.

4. “Open Season,” $8 million.

5 (tie). “Flicka,” $7.7 million.

5 (tie). “The Grudge 2,” $7.7 million.

7. “Man of the Year,” $7 million.

8. “Marie Antoinette,” $5.3 million.

9. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning,” $3.9 million.

10. “The Marine,” $3.7 million.