Even though it premiered in less 3-D theaters than previously hoped (so much for technology), Monsters vs Aliens still towered over the competition this weekend. The Dreamworks Animation/Paramount film is now the best opener of the year so far.

Monsters’ $59.3 million gross placed the comedy third behind 300 ($70.9 million) and Ice Age: The Meltdown ($68 million) on the list of all-time March entries. The animated feature also gave Reese Witherspoon her best debut since 2002’s Sweet Home Alabama ($35.6 million).

1. Monsters vs. Aliens, Dreamworks, $59,321,095 (avg. $14,454)
2. The Haunting in Connecticut, Lionsgate, $23,004,765 (avg. $8420)
3. Knowing, Summit, $14,702,187 (avg. $4406)
4. I Love You, Man, Paramount, $12,671,533 (avg. $4664)
5. Duplicity, Universal, $7,672,485 (avg. $2975)
6. Race to Witch Mountain, Disney, $5,801,775 (avg. $1775)
7. 12 Rounds, 20th Century Fox, $5,329,240 (avg. $2286)
8. Watchmen, Warner Bros., $2,732,439 (avg. $1359)
9. Taken, 20th Century Fox, $2,695,342 (avg. $1354)
10. The Last House on the Left, Universal, $2,644,295 (avg. $1175)

(You can review last week’s numbers here.)