Opening week was not as kind to Shrek as it was to Spidey. Though, predictably, Paramount's green, gross ogre took the number one spot atop the Canadian box office, its take fell short of what Spider-Man 3 made during its debut by just over $1 million, keeping the bragging rights for the summer so far with Sony.

Shrek the Third made $14.6 million for the week ending May 24, for a per-screen average of some $34,800, short of the $15.8 million opening splash made by Spider-Man 3 earlier in the month. The same was true in the U.S., where the high-powered sequels opened to $149.4 million and $182 million, respectively.

Spidey hung on to the number-two spot during this third week, earning another $4.6 million, bringing its total receipts in Canada to $27.7 million.

The week also saw Away from Her make further gains, climbing one notch to eighth place following the addition of five screens. It made $215,000 for the week, keeping far ahead of the other homemade releases -- A Vos Marques... Party!, still at number two, followed by Sharkwater from Alliance Atlantis and Rêves de Pousières ("Dreams of Dust") from K-Films Amérique, which debuted at fourth place. The copro between Canada, France and Burkina Faso made $4,000 from two screens in Montreal.