LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" topped the box office in the United States this weekend, raking in an estimated 27 million dollars, figures showed on Sunday.

The movie, a film about undercover men that features Scorsese's trademark blood-letting and violence is the director's biggest weekend opener ever, according to Encino-based box office tracker Exhibitor Relations, Inc. Scorsese is also the director of "Goodfellas," "Cape Fear" and "Gangs of New York".

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning," the latest in a series of remakes of the original 1974 horror movie came in second place with an estimated 19.2 million dollars.

"Open Season," the animated comedy that debuted in first place last week, slipped to third place with an estimated 16 million. The movie, about animals banding together for protection during hunting season, brought in 23.6 million last weekend, giving Sony a record 11 number one openings this year.

In fourth place, with an estimated 11.8 million, was "Employee of the Month" starring Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson, about employees of a superstore who vie for the affections of Simpson's character, the newly-employed hot tie who says she will date the store's employee of the month.

The action-adventure drama "The Guardian," starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher took in an estimated 9.6 million in its second week at the box office, dropping from second to fifth place.

Rounding out the top 12: "Jackass: Number Two" (6.4 million); "School for Scoundrels" (3.4 million); "Gridiron Gang" (2.3 million); "Jet Li's Fearless" (2.2 million); and "The Illusionist" (1.8 million); "Little Miss Sunshine" (1.3 million); and "Flyboys" (1 million).

The top 12 films grossed an estimated 102 million, making it the second "up" weekend in a row.

Final figures for the Friday-to-Monday period will be released on Monday. Enditem