LOS ANGELES - "Shrek Forever After" roared its way to the top of the box office, making $71.3M in its opening weekend.
But the fourth film in the monster franchise from DreamWorks Animation had the weakest debut of all the "Shrek" sequels.
"Shrek 2," from 2004, opened with $108 million. "Shrek the Third," from 2007, made $121.6 million in its first weekend.
And the latest instalment was available for the first time in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, where ticket prices are higher -- up to $19 in Manhattan.
This time, Shrek -- voiced as always by Mike Myers -- is experiencing a mid-life crisis, so he makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin to live as a fearsome ogre again for one day.
The other new wide release, "MacGruber," opened in sixth place with a disappointing $4.1 million.
