KANGAROO HOPS TO B.O. LEAD

Kangaroo Jack, a comedy about two pals trying to retrieve missing mob money from a kangaroo in Australia, edged into first place in its debut weekend, taking in $17.7 million.

National Security, an action comedy starring Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn as ex-cops who crack a smuggling ring, opened at No. 2, earning an estimated $15.7 million.

Last weekend's No. 1 film, Just Married, fell to third place with an estimated $12.5 million. The romantic comedy starring Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher has taken in $34 million since opening last weekend.

Overall the weekend's top 12 films took in $105.9 million, up a fraction of a percent from the same weekend last year and down 2.6% from last weekend.

In fourth place was The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which brought in an estimated $11.4 million in its fifth week out for a total of $299 million. The film is poised to make movie history as officials predict it will surpass the $300 million mark.

Of the films released in 2002, only two others have topped the $300 million mark—Spider-Man brought in $403.7 million and Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones brought in $310.3.

Catch Me If You Can rounds out the top five with $11.3 million.