Blindness struggled in the U.S. but found warmer audiences in Canada over its opening weekend, which saw the apocalyptic drama take in US$2 million at the North American box office.

The multi-territory copro from Rhombus Media -- which faced a crowded box office, middling reviews, and protests by the blind on both sides of the border -- managed only $1,185 per theater in the U.S. following an ambitious 1,700-screen release by Miramax Films.

In Canada, it played on 99 screens to an average of $3,000 for Alliance Films.

Some pundits had predicted that the picture, about a mysterious plague that affects nearly everyone in an unnamed town, would make closer to $7 million in North America. The film is based on the novel by José Saramago and opened the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

The box office was dominated by dogs, as Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua landed in top spot with US$29 million -- far ahead of second place, which belonged to Paramount's Eagle Eye with US$17 million, according to Box Office Mojo.