Watchmen triumphed at the box office this weekend, earning $55.2 million on 7,500 screens at 3,611 theaters, easily topping all other films. Yet its take dissappointed many observers, despite being the only nationwide release last weekend and enjoying the biggest theater count ever for an R-rated opening.

Watchmen, the $150 million adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel, was only the 13th highest-grossing comic book movie opener behind The Incredible Hulk (21st after accounting for ticket-price inflation). And opened at 124 IMAX theaters, which was the second largest IMAX launch since The Dark Knight. Its IMAX sales were $5.4 million, compared with Dark Knight's $6.3 millioin at 94 sites. Watchmen fell short of Zack Snyder’s previous film, 300, which grossed $70.9 million its opening weekend appearing on 4,800 screens at 3,103 sites. Exit polls show that 65 percent of the audience was male and 54 percent was over 25 years old according to Warner Bros.

Last week's box office king, er, queen, Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail eased into second place with $8.5 million. It had a 47.3 percent decrease from the previous weekend. Its total stands at $76.2 million after 17 days in theaters.

Taken held strong grossing $7.3 million after six weeks in theaters. The very successful action-thriller has earned $117.9 total.

Slumdog Millionaire rounded out the top four with $6.8 million. It dropped 43.4 percent from the previous weekend, but has well exceeded the film's budget of $15 million with its outstanding total of $125.3 million. The Best Picture Oscar winner has been in theaters for 17 weeks, and we wonder when this movie is ever going to slow down from its popular run. Also, 20th Century Fox recently announced they will release the DVD on March 31st, even though the film is still pulling in a fair amount of money in theaters.

Another movie with staying power, Paul Blart: Mall Cop lost little steam last weekend earning $4.1 million, which was down only 26 percent from the previous weekend. Its eight-week total stands at $133.6 million.

The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience suffered the biggest loss last weekend, dropping 77.4 percent from the previous weekend and pushing the film to ninth place from second. It grossed a mere $2.8 last weekend, and its lack of success is surprising considering the Jo-Bros large and loyal fan base.

The independent feature, Everlasting Memories, opened in just five theaters and earned $40,443. For an inside look at the heartwarming movie, see Inside Indiewood.

Also, Tokyo!, the collection of three short films from three innovative directors: Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind), Leos Carax (The Lovers on the Bridge), Bong Joon-Ho (The Host) grossed $23,640 in just one theater.

Finally, 12 is a Russian remake of the Sidney Lumet' 1957 classic, Twelve Angry Men. This version tells the story of 12 jurors who must decide the guilt or innocence of a young Chechen boy accused of killing his stepfather. The drama opened in five theaters and earned $12,042.

—Jessica Delli Santi