Signs ran crop circles around the competition to top an unusually strong weekend box office for August.

        The film, starring Mel Gibson as a farmer who finds mysterious patterns marking his fields, raked in $60.3 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

        The top 12 movies grossed an estimated $143 million, down 12 percent from the same weekend last year but still an unexpectedly strong showing, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

        Three low-budget films opened to modest takes. The Master of Disguise eked out third place in a market crowded with family films, taking in $13 million.

        In fourth place, Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat opened to $7.5 million. The film follows comedian Lawrence on a 2001 standup tour.

        Steven Soderbergh's Full Frontal debuted with just $725,000. The comedy about a group of Los Angeles oddballs had been billed as a return to Mr. Soderbergh's low-budget roots honed more than a decade ago with sex, lies and videotape. That film made about $25 million.

        Austin Powers in Goldmember, the third installment in the spy-spoof series, slipped to the No. 2 spot in its second week of release, making $32.4 million for a total of $143 million. The film is the 11th release this year to pass the $100 million mark.

        Other films in the weekend's top ten, according to estimated ticket sales by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. (final figures are to be released today):

        1. Signs, $60.3 million.
        2. Austin Powers in Goldmember, $32.4 million.
        3. The Master of Disguise, $13 million.
        4. Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat, $7.5 million.
        5. Road to Perdition, $6.6 million.
        6. Stuart Little 2, $6 million.
        7. Men in Black 2, $4.7 million.
        8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding, $3.01 million.
        9 (tie). K-19: The Widowmaker, $3 million.
        9 (tie). The Country Bears, $3 million.

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