A green ogre reigns atop the latest U.S. box office list. Shrek The Third  took in $122 million in its first weekend - the best-ever debut for an animated film, according to studio estimates. The DreamWorks production bested the $108 million opening of its predecessor, 2004's Shrek 2.

It was also the third-largest debut in movie history, trailing the $151.1 million tally for this month's Spider-Man 3, and the $135.6 million take for last summer's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Shrek The Third also took in $13.3 million in four overseas markets: Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and the Philippines.

The film's international rollout continues between mid-June and early July.

Slipping to second on the U.S. box office list was Spider-Man 3, taking in $28.5 million. Its worldwide total now stands at $747 million.