The unexpected love story between puppy-eyed Wall-E and EVE, central characters in Pixar/Disney’s most recent animated masterpiece, charmed enough moviegoers into theaters across the US and Canada to earn an estimated $62.5 million in its opening weekend.

Pixar keeps surprising us with improvements where we would think there is nothing more to improve and “Wall-E” is just another perfect example of the animation studio’s continuous evolution and self- exceeding.

“Wall-E,” which received almost unanimous positive reviews from film critics, sold an estimated $62.5 million of tickets in its first three days, according to Walt Disney Co, which owns Pixar.

This marks the company’s ninth consecutive No. 1 and its third-best opener, tying with 2001’s “Monsters, Inc.”

Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy also placed high at this weekend’s box office, with “Wanted” opening in second place, selling tickets worth an estimated $51.1 million and thus comfortably surpassing the mid- to high-$30 million range anticipated opening.

Jolie stars as a professional assassin who initiates a young, apparently ordinary man (McAvoy) into the secrets of the mysterious Fraternity. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, “Wanted” also stars Morgan Freeman and has music by Danny Elfman.

Third in moviegoers’ preferences this weekend was last weekend’s champion, Warner Bros’ spy comedy “Get Smart,” starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, with $20 million. This brings the film’s 10-day total to $77.3 million.

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc’s critically praised “Kung Fu Panda,” featuring the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Green, Lucy Liu and others, slipped to No. 4 with $11.7 million. The family film has gathered $179.3 million since its opening four weeks ago.

Rounding up the top five is “The Incredible Hulk,” from Marvel Entertainment Inc, with $9.2 million. The Edward Norton-starrer has earned $115.5 million in three weeks.