The U.S. box office turned it its third straight strong fall weekend, led by a $24.6 million opening for the new Jodie Foster thriller "Flightplan."

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"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" took in $20.1 million in its first weekend in wide release.

It was the first time two movies opened with more than $20 million in September, Daily Variety reported.

"Just Like Heaven" took in $9.8 million in its second weekend in release, good for third place. The new dance movie "Roll Bounce" opened at No. 4 with $8 million.

"The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was No. 5 with $7.5 million in its third weekend.

Overall, Nielsen EDI said the U.S. box office took in $98 million, an improvement of 39 percent over the same weekend in 2004. Since the weekend Labor Day, the box office has taken in $332.7 million -- and is running 15.6 percent ahead of last fall's pace.

Year-to-date, the box office is still trailing 2004 numbers by 6.5 percent, with an overall gross of $6.358 billion.