Estimated ticket sales from the science fiction action film about a man who turns into a big, green hero, starring Ed Norton, came in at $54.54 million. Last week's top movie, the animated "Kung Fu Panda," was pushed to second place with $34.32 million.

Another new offering, the thriller "The Happening," starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, broke out at No. 3 with $30.5 million in estimated gate receipts.

"You Don't Mess with the Zohan" was fourth at $16.4 million, while "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was fifth at $13.55 million.

Rounding out the Top 10 were "Sex and the City," $10.19 million; "Iron Man," $5.13 million; "The Strangers," $4.1 million; "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," $3 million; and "What Happens in Vegas," $1.7 million.

Bowing out of the top tier were "Baby Mama" and "Made of Honor."