Monsters vs. Aliens earned $58.2 million for the biggest opening weekend of 2009 so far, earning $58 million to Watchmen‘s $55. It’s not surprising that it won, but it’s a little weird that it had to charge more to do so.

While the 2,080 3-D screens accounted for just 28 percent of the roughly 7,300 on which the movie played, they made up 56 percent of its total box-office haul, said Anne Globe, head of marketing for DreamWorks Animation. [AP]

And those 3-D tickets cost three or four dollars more than regular ones.  Overall, the box office was up 40% from the same weekend last year. Even Haunting in Connecticut made $23 million, even after basically taking a dump in the mouth of the English language by advertising it as”based on a true story.”  I can’t imagine getting dragged to that movie let alone actually wanting to see it.  They must’ve advertised a lot during Two and a Half Men or Dancing with the Stars or one of those other shows that 100 million people watch and somehow I’ve never met any of them.  And let’s keep it that way.

1. “Monsters vs. Aliens,” $58.2 million.

2. “The Haunting in Connecticut,” $23 million.

3. “Knowing,” $14.7 million.

4. “I Love You, Man,” $12.6 million.

5. “Duplicity,” $7.6 million.

6. “Race to Witch Mountain,” $5.6 million.

7. “12 Rounds,” $5.3 million.

8. “Watchmen,” $2.755 million.

9. “Taken,” $2.75 million.

10. “The Last House on the Left,” $2.6 million.