Sandler edges Bieber at box office

AFP, LOS ANGELES: Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" cured Bieber fever as the funnyman's latest farce edged the teen heartthrob's concert documentary to top the North American box office, industry data showed Sunday.

Sandler's romantic comedy co-starring Jennifer Aniston opened with $31 million, barely holding off Bieber's "Never Say Never," which debuted at $30.3 million, although it played in 443 fewer theaters, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Sandler, the frat-house humor specialist, plays a plastic surgeon who pretends to be divorcing Aniston's character in order to bed a young teacher played by swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker. Critics said it was too predictable.

Meanwhile, Bieber's film was praised by critics, and naturally by his legions of young fans, mostly female. It tells the story of the boy's rise from a small town in Canada to superstardom -- and he doesn't turn 17 until next month.

The animated "Gnomeo and Juliet" debuted strongly in third place, with $25.5 million. The family-friendly Shakespeare retelling features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, as well as the music of Elton John.

Gladiator pic "The Eagle," starring Channing Tatum, debuted fourth with $8.6 million, which was enough to push "The Roommate" to the fifth spot, down from number one last week. The widely panned horror flick earned $8.4 million in its second week in theaters.

Critically acclaimed "The King's Speech" took $7.4 million in the sixth spot, bringing its 12-week total to $94 million. The British historical drama has been nominated for 12 Oscars.

Dropping into seventh was "No Strings Attached," a romantic romp starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. The Ivan Reitman film about casual sex between friends took in $5.6 million.

"Sanctum" fell to eighth. The 3-D underwater cave adventure produced by James Cameron of "Avatar" fame secured $5.1 million in ticket receipts.

Just under the $4 million mark were "True Grit" in the ninth spot, followed by action flick "The Green Hornet."

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