It took the combination of James Bond and Charlie Brown to save the box office with the openings of both "Spectre" and "The Peanuts Movie" after a disastrous few weekends of flops.

"Spectre" took an easy first-place spot with an estimated $73 million, according to Rentrak estimates Sunday, failing to reach the $88.4 million opening of 2012's "Skyfall." The 24th film in the Bond series stars Daniel Craig as the dapper spy and cost a reported $250 million to produce. "Spectre" is now the second-highest opening for Craig in his four Bond films.

Providing a family-friendly alternative to James Bond's guns and martinis, Fox's animated "The Peanuts Movie" took second place with a strong $45 million debut. The film cost around $100 million to make.

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