'Shrek the Third' pulls in $39 million

It isn't easy being green, even if you're an ogre. "Shrek the Third" opened to good business Thursday but its studio declined to predict Saturday whether it would break the opening weekend record for an animated film set by "Shrek 2" three years ago.

"Shrek the Third" grossed $900,000 in opening on 1,000 screens nationwide Thursday and sold $38.1 million worth of tickets in wide release Friday, said Ann Daly, chief operating officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.

"Even some of the midnight shows were just playing great," she said.

The movie attracted not only families with kids but teens and older adults.

"You're really playing to the entire moviegoing population," Daly said.

In 2004, "Shrek 2" set a record for best animated debut with a $108 million weekend. Its main competition was the ancient Greek action film "Troy," starring Brad Pitt.

"Shrek the Third" has tougher rivals for the audience dollar.

Like its bulky hero, the movie is uncomfortably corseted _ opening in between "Spider-Man 3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which comes out over Memorial Day weekend.

"We'll be thrilled" if "Shrek the Third" matches the success of "Shrek 2," Daly said.

"We still have to sit tight and see what happens over Memorial Day weekend," she said.