The top movies at the North American box office

LOS ANGELES Feb 7 (Reuters) - The top 10 movies at the North American box office for the three-day weekend beginning Feb. 5, led by the new release "Dear John," according to studio estimates compiled on Sunday by Reuters. 1 (*) Dear John ........ $32.4 million 2 (1) Avatar ........... $23.6 million 3 (*) From Paris With Love ............ $ 8.1 million 4 (2) Edge of Darkness . $ 7.0 million 5 (4) The Tooth Fairy ...$ 6.5 million 6 (3) When in Rome ..... $ 5.5 million 7 (5) The Book of Eli .. $ 4.8 million 8(14) Crazy Heart ...... $ 3.7 million 9 (6) Legion ........... $ 3.4 million 10 (8) Sherlock Holmes .. $ 2.6 million

NOTES: Last weekend's ranking is in parentheses. "*" = new release.

TOTALS TO DATE:

Avatar ...........,,,,,.... $630.1 million

Sherlock Holmes ..............,,,,,....... $201.6 million

The Book of Eli ......,,,.. $ 82.2 million

Legion ...........,,,,,.... $ 34.6 million

The Tooth Fairy ..,,,,,.... $ 34.3 million

Dear John ........,,,,,.... $ 32.4 million

Edge of Darkness ..............,,,,,...... $ 29.1 million

When in Rome ...,,,,,...... $ 20.9 million

Crazy Heart ............... $ 11.2 million

From Paris With Love ...... $ 8.1 million

"Dear John" and "Legion" were released by Screen Gems, a unit of Sony Corp (6758.T) (SNE.N).

"Avatar" and "The Tooth Fairy" were released by 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp (NWSA.O). "Crazy Heart" was released by Fox Searchlight, also a News Corp unit.

"From Paris With Love" was released by Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (LGF.N).

"Edge of Darkness," The Book of Eli" and "Sherlock Holmes" were released by Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N).

"When in Rome" was released by Touchstone Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co (DIS.N). (Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Doina Chiacu)