'Transformers' a big hit in U.S. theaters

Estimated gate receipts showed 'Transformers,' starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, piled up $112 million in sales at 4,234 theaters.

Last week's top show, "The Proposal," moved to No. 2 with $18.47 million in estimated ticket sales, followed by "The Hangover" with $17.22 million and "Up" with $13.05 million.

Another new movie, "My Sister's Keeper," a Nick Cassavetes-directed drama starring Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva and Cameron Diaz, opened to a luke-warm reception and took in $12.03 million for the No. 5 spot.

Filling out the top 10 were "Year One," $5.8 million; "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," $5.4 million; "Star Trek," $3.61 million; "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," $3.5 million; and "Away We Go," which pushed its way up to 10th from No. 13 in its fourth week in theaters with $1.68 million.

'Away' stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph in a Sam Mendes-directed romantic comedy about a couple expecting their first child traveling the country looking for a place to raise it.

Dismissed from the top tier were "Land of the Lost," Terminator Salvation" and "Imagine That."

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.