The movie Cars opened this weekend and Grossed $62,800,000!

Pixar Animation Studios and distributor Buena Vista revved up their seventh blockbuster in a row as moviegoers got their kicks on Route 66 and lost interest in Remake 666 over the weekend.

Cars hauled in an estimated $62.8 million from close to 7,000 screens at 3,985 theaters, the second highest-grossing opening for a June release and fifth best among animated features. While in top gear, the debut marked a pit stop for Pixar—in terms of number of tickets sold, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, The Incredibles and Monsters, Inc. each had from 14 percent to 21 percent greater attendance out of the gate, and, until now, Pixar saw higher initial grosses with each new release.

"As far as expectations go, we've all grown accustomed to hitting home runs, and in anyone's ballpark $60 million is a home run," said Chuck Viane, Buena Vista's president of distribution. "On Monday, 61 percent of kids are out of school, then a week from Monday, 81 percent. That's the great thing about the summer—it's not just about the weekend. The week takes on the aura of being a seven-day playdate."

According to Buena Vista's research, Cars was predictably fueled by families, who comprised 74 percent of moviegoers, though nearly 40 percent were over 25 years old and there was an even split between the genders. The audience reaction, according to pollster CinemaScore, was an "A."

"Pixar's consistency is remarkable, and always story is king," noted Mr. Viane. "It isn't about the animation; you have to tell a great story. [With Cars,] you see in these cars a member of your family, whether it's the Porsche, the tow truck or the race car. It's a very comfortable world to be in, and everyone walks away with a favorite."

With a franchise of Pixar's caliber, the pressure is constantly present to match or exceed prior successes, but not all movies are the same. Cars veered from Pixar's past efforts by being their first feature without a human context, set entirely in an alternate reality and replacing people with anthropomorphized automobiles. Similar conceits limited Robots and Chicken Little.

Previous Pixar features didn't have to contend with a glut of other computer-generated movies potentially lessening their event status. Cars is the genre's sixth entry this year alone with Over the Hedge right in its rear-view mirror. Aside from Pixar's brand equity, talking cars are a change of pace from the usual talking animals, and, with its Doc Hollywood-like storyline, Cars was less manic-looking and more adult-minded than other C.G. fare, giving it broader family appeal.