The robot tale also beat out the first-day grosses for Pixar's top debuts Finding Nemo in 2003 and 2004's The Incredibles. Both of those bowed to just over $20M on opening day which at today's ticket prices would be slightly higher than WALL·E's take. Those two films generated 30% of their opening weekend grosses on Friday and were released at times when children were still in school.

With most of the country's schools now closed for summer vacation, WALL·E is likely to see a higher share on the first day. Last year this weekend, the toon giants launched Ratatouille with $16.4M on Friday which repped 35% of the $47M weekend tally. Both the rodent chef pic and the intergalactic robot love story were met with universal praise from critics. For the Friday-to-Sunday period this weekend, look for WALL·E to reach $64-68M.

Universal also rocked the multiplexes with a muscular opening of its own with the actioner Wanted which generated an estimated $18.8M on Friday in its first day of play. The James McAvoy-Angelina Jolie thrill ride also earned solid reviews which is rare for the genre and delivered a better than expected gross despite its R rating. Wanted is on its way to generating one of the top ten openings ever for an R pic. Look for a $47-50M three-day take for the effects-driven assassin adventure.

Together, WALL·E and Wanted look to inject $110-120M into the marketplace this weekend ending a record June on a high note and setting up July for a scorching start.

Among holdovers, Friday-to-Friday declines were 51% for Get Smart, 45% for Kung Fu Panda, 58% for The Incredible Hulk, and 65% for The Love Guru.

For NEW reviews of WALL·E and Wanted visit The Chief Report.

Be sure to check back on Sunday for a complete weekend box office report.