Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Tops Weekend Box Office

The computer animated children's flick, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," came in at No. 1 at the box office this weekend, raking in an estimated $30.1 million since its opening night on Friday. It grossed at the higher end of what industry forecasters had predicted for its opening, which had been within the range of $25 to $30 million.

The film, which cost $90 million to complete, came in at No. 1 in both Britain and Mexico's box offices this weekend as well. Its voice cast includes actors Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris, and Anna Faris.

Based on the 1978 children's picture book of the same title, the plot's main character invents a machine that sends pizzas, spaghetti, hamburgers, and hot dogs raining from the sky. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'" economic success this weekend perhaps marks the end of a slump in recent children's film fare tickets sales.