The crime drama “The Brave One,” starring Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard, debuted at No. 1 in the North American box office, with an estimated weekend gross of $14 million.

Jodie Foster stars and executive produces the action thriller “The Brave One,” directed by Neil Jordan. This weekend’s top-earner at the box office - $14 million – is a film which has created quite a buzz as Foster’s movies tend to be few and far in between.

Of course its subject is not one to put aside easily either. The double Academy Award winner stars as Erica Blaine, a New York radio talk show host in love with her fiancé and in love with her city.

Her whole life is turned upside down when a brutal attack claims her lover’s life (played by “Lost” star Naveen Andrews) and leaves her in a coma for three weeks. She awakens a different woman, with her feelings of physical and emotional safety shattered.

Disappointed with the police’s work on the case, angst-ridden, she buys an illegal gun. And she starts to use it, becoming a vigilante that even attracts public attention and makes headlines in newspapers.

Actor Terrence Howard stars as the police detective that investigates the mysterious vigilante’s executions. Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen and Jane Adams appear in other roles.

While the violence will make viewers squirm in their seats, the psychological aspect is quite fascinating, as Erica plunges into the primal depths of her instincts for revenge, punishment, survival, self-preservation.

Two other films debuted this weekend and attracted moviegoers. “Mr Woodcock,” starring Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon and Seann William Scott placed third in the box office charts, with $9.1 million.

Thornton plays the title character, a physical education teacher who becomes engaged to the mother of one of his former students – much to the horror of the latter.

“Dragon Wars,” a science-fiction movie about dragons attacking Los Angeles, ranked fourth with $5.4 million.

Second place went to “3:10 to Yuma,” a western starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, which earned $9.2 million. James Mangold’s remake of the 1957 homonymous western starring Hollywood legend Glenn Ford opened last week with ticket sales worth $ 14.1 million.

There are no new entries among the remaining five movies: Rob Zombie’s horror remake of “Halloween” was sixth with $5 million, Matt Damon’s “The Bourne Ultimatum” was seventh with $4.2 million, goofy comedy “Balls of Fury” and Jackie Chan sequel “Rush Hour 3” tied for eighth at about $3.3 million, and “Mr Bean's Holiday” was 10th at $2.7 million.