From left: Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack, Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen and Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks are shown in a scene from, 'Toy Story 3'. - AP

The animated sequel about toys that come to life leaped to the No. 1 spot with a $109 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday.

Toy Story 3 became the third animated film to top US$100 million in the first weekend, joining Shrek the Third at US$121.6 million and Shrek 2 at US$108 million.

It was by far the best debut for a film from Disney's Pixar Animation, topping The Incredibles at US$70.5 million.

Reuniting voice stars Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, the movie has Woody the cowboy, Buzz Lightyear and their toy pals facing their mortality, worried they will end up on the scrap heap now that their kid has grown up.

"Whether you're a kid or a parent, you always come to a fork in the road where you make the decision of what to do about your toys. Therein lies the appeal of the movie," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney.

That, and the fact that Woody, Buzz and the gang have become like family to Toy Story fans, he said. "Somehow these characters have worked their way in. When you go there, you can see the audience is vested in the movie from the start. It doesn't take any time to warm up. The minute it hits the screen, they're in," Viane said.

Toy Story 3 took over the No. 1 spot from Sony's The Karate Kid, which pulled in US$29 million to raise its 10-day total to US$106.3 million.

The weekend's other new wide release, the Warner Bros. action tale Jonah Hex, bombed with just US$5.1 million. Adapted from the comic book series, Jonah Hex stars Josh Brolin as a disfigured 19th-century bounty hunter tracking a villain who aims to unleash a doomsday weapon.

Toy Story 3 took in an additional US$44.8 million overseas, giving it a world-wide total of US$153.8 million. The movie has opened in such countries as Mexico, Argentina and China but will not debut in most major foreign markets until July and August.

The film also maintains the perfect track record of Pixar, whose 11 films all have opened at No. 1, starting with the original Toy Story in 1995 and continuing with such hits as Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, WALL-E and last year's Up.

"Disney-Pixar is the best box-office insurance policy you can have," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "It's a brand that just resonates with audiences. If they go to a Pixar movie, they know they're going to be entertained. They're going to have a great time and also get a message. There's always a positive lesson you walk away with."

The film gave a nice boost to Hollywood, whose overall receipts had lagged in May. Domestic revenues totalled US$198 million, up 31 percent from the same weekend last year, when The Proposal led with US$33.6 million.

Toy Story 3 continued Hollywood's streak of 3-D hits. The 3-D version of the film accounted for 60 per cent of revenues, though it played on more 2-D than 3-D screens, according to Disney.

Tickets for 3-D movies typically cost a few dollars more than 2-D versions.

Toy Story 3 took in US$8.4 million in 3-D showings at huge-screen IMAX theatres. That beat the IMAX record for an animated film previously held by Monsters vs. Aliens with US$5.1 million.