'Battle: Los Angeles' lays waste to box-office foes Friday

Moviegoers preferred aliens over fairy tales in a big way Friday (March 11) as "Battle: Los Angeles" racked up a pretty strong opening day at the box office.

The alien-invasion movie took in $13.5 million in its first day, according to studio estimates. That's a little bit ahead of what forecasters were predicting and puts it on pace for a $35 million-plus opening weekend.

"Battle: LA" also beat the combined take for Friday's second- and third-place finishers. "Rango" and "Red Riding Hood." "Rango," last week's No. 1 movie, took in about $5.5 million, while depending on whose estimates you believe, the horror-tinged version of "Red Riding Hood" made either $5 million or $5.7 million. In either case, it's only a so-so start.

"The Adjustment Bureau" came in fourth with an estimated $3.4 million. "Mars Needs Moms" opened in fifth, but it's already earning "bomb" status from most box-office watchers. The animated movie made just $1.8 million on Friday -- and considering it cost a reported $150 million to make, that's a pretty scant return.