<i>Pokemon</i> Rules At Box Office

It was a big weekend at the box office, and if you see any kids running toward a movie theater, you better stay out of their way.

Pokemon madness has hit the big screen, leaving the competition behind. The Early Show Correspondent Gail O'Neill reports.

"Kids have always liked superheroes, you know. There is a vicarious thrill when a powerless child sees these little creatures, you know, conquering the world. Also, it's something parents don't get," notes Entertainment Weekly magazine senior editor Jess Cagle.

The film also had going for it some Burger King tie-ins and licensees, plus Veterans Day, which allowed the movie to have a strong second day, adds Cagle. "It was going to open huge, but they really did a phenomenal job with it."

And interviewed kids felt their expectations were fully met.

"I like Pikachu and this is great!" says one girl. A little boy expressed his enjoyment for the film's action, adding that Pokemon was "cool."

"This is a huge crossover phenomenon the likes of which we have never seen,Â…not only crossing over from boys to girls, but all ethnicities," says Cagle.

Pokemon Mania The latest kid's movie is taken on by the real critics -- five kids.

"The surprising thing about Dogma is that it has played well all over the country, even in areas of the country that are considered conservative," notes Cagle.

"I think it could be very controversial, but the way they dealt with it was as noncontroversial as possible, noted a male viewer.

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"I think with Dogma, the reviews helped. The fact that it is a comedy also helped. And look at the cast, you've got Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and the secret weapon of all movies: Chris Rock," Cagle says.

In many cities, moviegoers had to cross lines of protesters just to see the film. But protests aside, the film did better than expected.

The following are some of the numbers from this weekend's box office returns:

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