Two newcomers bested THE INCREDIBLES for the weekend ended Nov. 21, 2004: Buena Vista’s Jerry Bruckheimer actioner, NATIONAL TREASURE, which tallied $35.1M and Paramount/Nickelodeon’s THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE, which soaked up a terrific $32M. So much for the demise of 2D animation.

Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar’s THE INCREDIBLES brought in another $26.5M for a third-place finish and a hefty $177.5M in three weeks.

Warner Bros.’ THE POLAR EXPRESS fell to fourth place in its second weekend, bringing in $15.6M for a tepid two-week total of $51.4M. Universal’s BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON (with vfx by Double Negative) held onto the fifth spot with $10M for a two-week total of $21.5M. New Line’s Pierce Brosnan thriller, AFTER THE SUNSET, finished in sixth place with $5M and $19M to date. Universal’s RAY occupied seventh position with $4.5M and a cume of $59.1M. Sony’s THE GRUNGE followed in eighth place with $3.8M and a nifty $104.4M. Focus Features’ SEED OF CHUCKY plummeted to ninth with $3.2M and $13.4M. And Lions Gate’s SAW finished 10th with $2.8M for a total of $50.3M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.