Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" jumped all the way to the top of the weekend box office class with $42 million.

A big-screen sequel to the Disney Channel TV movies, "High School Musical 3" had a record opening for a song-and-dance movie, easily beating the previous best of $27.8 million, set over the summer by "Mamma Mia!"

Lionsgate's horror sequel "Saw V" had to settle for second place with $30.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"High School Musical 3" and "Saw V" combined to send Hollywood revenues soaring.

The top 12 movies took in $120.5 million, up 41 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Saw IV" led the weekend with a $31.8 million debut.

 

Mark Zoradi, president of Disney's motion-picture group, said the continuing story of lovebirds Troy and Gabriella played largely to the TV audience of young girls, though the big-screen version also broadened the "High School Musical" fan base.

"There's no question there's a female skew to it and a family skew to it," Zoradi said. "The movie is working not only to that core preteen audience, but also aging up a little bit and also bringing in some boys."

"High School Musical 3" also pulled in $40 million in 19 other countries where it has opened, among them Britain, Germany and Spain. 

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