PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Memorial Day weekend proved to be a big one at multiplexes as two highly-anticipated sequels competed for moviegoers with last weekend’s runaway champ.

When the dust cleared, the box office crown belonged to the comedy sequel, The Hangover Part II, which stood well out in front as a result of earning an estimated $87-million on its debut weekend.

A distant second was the other debuting sequel, the animated attraction Kung Fu Panda 2, which took in a not-too-shabby $48-million on its initial weekend of release.

Last weekend’s champ, also a sequel, was Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which followed up its $90-million opening weekend, the year’s strongest, with a solid second weekend, taking in another $39-million.

And fourth was the holdover comedy Bridesmaids, which totaled $16-million.

Overall, it was a gratifying comeback, a vast industry-wide improvement over last year’s dismal Memorial Day Weekend showing

Reported by KYW Movie Critic Bill Wine, KYW Newsradio 1060