The Universal Pictures action film stars Mark Wahlberg as a reformed smuggler debuted above expectations at No. 1 with $24 million.
Disney's 3-D re-release of "Beauty and the Beast" took the No. 2 spot with $18.5 million.
"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" slid to No. 3 with $11.5 million.
"Joyful Noise," the Warner Bros.' musical comedy starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, opened below expectations in the No. 4 spot with $11.3 million.
The top 10 films of the weekend were:
1. "Contraband," $24 million ($1.5 million international).
2. "Beauty and the Beast," $18.5 million.
3. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," $11.5 million
($16.8 million international).
4. "Joyful Noise," $11.3 million.
5. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $8.4 million ($27.4
million international).
6. "The Devil Inside," $7.9 million.
7. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," $6.8 million ($16.5
million international).
8. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," $5.8 million ($14.4
million international).
9. "War Horse," $5.6 million ($8.5 million international).
10. "The Iron Lady," $5.3 million ($3.4 million
international).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
