LOS ANGELES — Even mean and crooked, Denzel Washington can pack a movie theater. Training Day, the nice-guy actor's first time as a villain, debuted as the No. 1 weekend film with $24.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

        Serendipity, a romantic comedy starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, opened in second place with $14 million.

        Last weekend's top movie, Don't Say a Word, slipped to No. 3 with $10 million. Zoolander, the second-place film a week ago, fell to No. 4 with $9.9 million.

        Two other new movies debuted in the top 10 this weekend. The highway thriller Joy Ride, with Steve Zahn, Paul Walker and Leelee Sobieski, was No. 5 with $7.4 million. The junior-high comedy Max Keeble's Big Move was No. 6 with $5.5 million.

        Hollywood did healthy business for the second weekend in a row after a sharp drop last month in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Several big films, including Training Day, were bumped from their scheduled Sept. 21 openings, leaving a dearth of new movies.

        Overall, the top 12 movies took in $86.9 million, up 14 percent from the same weekend last year and up 35.5 percent from a week ago.

        Mr. Washington plays a flamboyantly corrupt narcotics detective who bullies his way through a day on the streets with a rookie cop (Mr. Hawke).

        It was almost exactly a year since Mr. Washington led the box office as a high-minded football coach in Remember the Titans, which had been his best previous opening at $20.9 million.

        Serendipity, largely set in New York City, also was affected by the terrorist attacks. Distributor Miramax removed a shot of the trade center towers from the finished film.

        Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures are to be released today.

        1. Training Day, $24.2 million.

        2. Serendipity, $14 million.

        3. Don't Say a Word, $10 million.

        4. Zoolander, $9.9 million.

        5. Joy Ride, $7.4 million.

        6. Max Keeble's Big Move, $5.5 million.

        7. Hearts in Atlantis, $5.4 million.

        8. Hardball, $3.7 million.

        9. The Others, $3 million.

        10. Rush Hour 2, $1.8 million.

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