''Red Dragon'' breaks box office record

Forget Reggie Jackson: Hannibal Lecter is the real Mr. October.

Breaking the record for best October movie opening, the lovable cannibal’s latest vehicle, ”Red Dragon,” grossed $37.5 million this weekend, according to studio estimates. The previous benchmark was held by ”Meet the Parents,” which earned $28.6 million in 2000.

”Dragon,” the third Lecter flick to star Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, also features an amazing cast that includes Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, and Harvey Keitel, which certainly added to the film’s appeal. Still, its opening tally fell far short of the $58 million ”Hannibal” earned last year. The difference: ”Hannibal” came 10 years after ”The Silence of the Lambs,” while ”Red Dragon” followed ”Hannibal” by only a year and a half, so perhaps anticipation for the film wasn’t as frenzied this time.

As expected, ”Sweet Home Alabama” slipped to second place, falling 39 percent from its $35.6 million opening to earn another $21.6 million, bringing its 10-day total to $65.6 million. At this rate, the Reese Witherspoon comedy should have no trouble becoming the actress’ first film to crack $100 million. Third place, meanwhile, went to the Jackie Chan action comedy ”The Tuxedo,” which declined 33 percent to $10.1 million. Its total stands at a mediocre $28.1 million.

At No. 4 was ”My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” which earned another $8.5 million and finally outgrossed ”The Blair Witch Project” to become the most successful independent film ever. It has grossed a total of $148 million since its release last April. And ”Barbershop” rounded out the top five with $6.8 million, barely edging out the new religious cartoon ”Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie,” which placed sixth with $6.5 million despite playing in fewer than 1,000 theaters. That’s a lot of green.