Academy Award-winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe did a fine job this weekend, pulling their newly released crime epic “American Gangster” to the No. 1 spot on the North American box office, with an estimated $46.3 million.

Moviegoers chose an R-rated gangster drama over a family friendly animated movie about bees over the weekend, making Universal’s “American Gangster” take the lead over DreamWorks’ “Bee Movie.”

Preliminary figures from Box Office Mojo show that “Gangster” grossed an estimated $46.3 million on approximately 5,300 screens at 3,054 theaters, while “Bee Movie” collected an estimated $39.1 million on around 6,100 screens at 3,928 theaters.

The Ridley Scott-directed crime film tells the story of real life drug lord Frank Lucas, portrayed by Denzel Washington, and how he is defeated by detective Richie Roberts, portrayed by Russell Crowe. The movie was rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality and succeeded in scoring the ninth-biggest opening for an R-rated movie in Hollywood history, according to Box Office Mojo.

“Bee Movie” is Jerry Seinfeld’s longtime project with DreamWorks Animation & Paramount Pictures. Seinfeld co-wrote the script with Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, and Andy Robin. He also offers his voice to the computer-animated comedy, alongside Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Megan Mullally, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates and Oprah Winfrey. Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner directed.

Opening at No. 2 at the box office, “Bee Movie” had the fifth highest-grossing start not to reach No. 1 on the weekend chart, according to Box Office Mojo.

Horror movie “Saw IV” sold an estimated $11 million worth of tickets, at No. 3, while “Dan in Real Life” grossed an estimated $8.1 million. Fifth place went to “30 Days of Night,” with an estimated $4 million in ticket sales.

Studio estimates for the Friday-Sunday period, according to the Box Office Mojo:

1. “American Gangster,” $46,344,000

2. “Bee Movie,” $39,100,000

3. “Saw IV,” $11,010,000

4. “Dan in Real Life,” $8,125,000

5. “30 Days of Night,” $4,000,000

6. “The Game Plan,” $3,853,000

7. “Martian Child,” $3,650,000

8. “Michael Clayton,” $2,900,000

9. “Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married,” $2,730,000

10. “Gone Baby Gone,” $2,400,000