In its first week of wide release, Disney’s 2-D animated feature The Princess and the Frog took the box office crown with an estimated $25 million.  The film, which is set in New Orleans and features the studio’s first black princess, averaged a solid $7,280 from 3,434 theaters.  The Sandra Bullock-starring family/football drama The Blind Side dropped only 22.9% and finished in second place with an estimated $15.4 million.  Clint Eastwood’s political/rugby drama Invictus debuted in third place with an estimated $9 million.  Overall the box office was up 8% from last year when The Day the Earth Stood Still debuted, but down 43% from two years ago when I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks opened.

While The Princess and the Frog’s opening weekend paled in comparison with those of 3D CGI animated features such as Kung-Fu Panda and Up, it was actually a strong opening for an animated feature during a non-holiday December weekend.  The Princess and the Frog, which attracted an audience that was 64% female and 53% under 25, received a CinemaScore of “A,” which indicates that the film should have good “legs” through the rest of the month.

The Blind Side, which may end up north of $200 million, topped the $150 million mark this weekend, becoming the 18th film to do so in 2009, a new box office record.