This past week, the multiplexes had a little bit of something for everyone: politics, animals, music, dancing, thrillers, Oscar contenders and even horror. Not surprisingly, this meant a lot of dollars were shelled out in return.

As expected, the big screen debut of High School Musical 3 had tweeners (and their loving parents) all atwitter. Thanks to a $42 million debut, the G-rated film officially became the best musical opener of all time. (Mamma Mia! - with its $27.8 million - was the previous leader.)

Meanwhile, a film on the other end of the ratings spectrum was scaring up some decent dollars of its own. Saw V, which probably could have waited to premiere on Halloween, took in approximately $30 million over the last three days. Although it was pitted against the highly-anticipated Disney sequel, the movie carved out its own audience and raised first place-worthy numbers. Although the series is currently on its fifth life, the 2008 installment came within $4 million dollars of Saw III, the franchise’s best performer to date.

Although it has not yet entered the Top Ten, this weekend’s best performer actually came in at #21. Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie, averaged over $32,000 in only 15 theaters. The Clint Eastwood film, which many say has Academy Award potential, opens in wide release next Friday.

1. High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Disney, $42,030,184 (avg. $11,601)
2. Saw V, Lionsgate, $30,053,954 (avg. $9822)
3. Max Payne, 20th Century Fox, $7,791,649 (avg. $2305)
4. Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Disney, $6,884,387 (avg. $2158)
5. Pride and Glory, New Line, $6,262,396 (avg. $2423)
6. The Secret Life of Bees, Fox Searchlight, $6,051,630 (avg. $3713)
7. W., Lionsgate, $5,088,249 (avg. $2482)
8. Eagle Eye, Dreamworks/Paramount, $5,051,952 (avg. $1975)
9. Body of Lies, Warner Bros., $4,064,488 (avg. $1890)
10. Quarantine, Sony, $2,581,262 (avg. $1159)

(You can review last week’s numbers here.)