THE new gambling drama “21” played a winning hand at the weekend box office in North America, earning an estimated US$23.7 million in its first round.

The fact-based saga revolves around a team of college whizzes who conspire to count cards at blackjack tables in Las Vegas. The cast includes Kevin Spacey, a professor who coaches the students, and Laurence Fishburne, who plays a casino thug. The movie was directed by Australian filmmaker Robert Luketic (“Legally Blonde”).

The film distributor, Columbia Pictures, said the opening for the US$35 million film exceeded expectations, and it played strongly to old, young, male and female moviegoers.

After two weekends at No. 1, the animated smash “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!” slipped to No. 2 with US$17.4 million. The 20th Century Fox comedy, featuring the voices of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, became the first release of 2008 to hit the century mark, with sales of US$117.3 million to date.

New at No. 3 was the spoof “Superhero Movie,” with a disappointing US$9.5 million. Prolific filmmaker Tyler Perry’s latest comedy “Meet the Browns” tumbled two places to No. 4 with US$7.8 million. The Owen Wilson comedy “Drillbit Taylor” fell one place to No. 5 with US$5.3 million, also in its second weekend.

The Iraq war-themed drama “Stop-Loss” opened at No. 8 with just US$4.5 million. War-related films, such as “In the Valley of Elah” and “Rendition” have bombed at the box office, and expectations were low for “Stop-Loss,” which stars Ryan Phillippe as a soldier who faces a second tour of duty.

The British comedy “Run, Fat Boy, Run,” the feature directing debut of former “Friends” star David Schwimmer, opened at No. 13 with US$2.4 million. The film topped the U.K. box office in September.

(SD-Agencies)