The 3-D remake of the Charles Dickens tale raked in $31 million, according to studio estimates from box office tracking firm Nielsen EDI.

While the film fell short of some box office analysts' estimates by $5 million, the Jim Carrey animated tale still did more than twice the business of any movie out this weekend.

Once again, 3-D flexed its muscle at the box office. Although less than half the nation's theaters have 3-D capability, Carol did about 75% of its business on 3-D screens.

Ebenezer Scrooge wasn't the only one counting cash this weekend. Michael Jackson's This is It held well from its debut, dropping just 40% to take second place and $14 million. Since its release last week, Jackson's concert film has done $57.9 million.

The Men Who Stare at Goats, George Clooney's military comedy, was a surprising third-place finisher with $13.3 million. The movie was expected to take in just $7 million.

The Fourth Kind, an alien abduction horror flick, was fourth with a debut of $12.5 million, slightly exceeding expectations.

The no-budget horror film Paranormal Activity was No. 5 with $8.6 million. Shot for $11,000, Paranormal has done $97.4 million and will cross the $100 million blockbuster mark this week.

The only other major release, the Cameron Diaz spooker The Box, met most expectations with $7.9 million, good for sixth place.

Precious, the hardscrabble drama expected to be an Oscar contender, did huge business in 18 theaters, raking in $1.8 million — or $100,000 a screen, more than 10 times the average for a new film. Distributor Lionsgate plans to expand the film nationwide by the end of the month.

Ticket sales surged 38% over last weekend but fell 14% from the same weekend last year. Final figures are out Monday.

Enlarge By ImageMovers Digital LLC, AP Ebenezer Scrooge, voiced by Jim Carrey, should have been smiling this weekend as A Christmas Carol was No. 1.