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Canines ruled the boxx office this weekend, as Disney’s Beverly Hills Chihuahua earned nearly $30 million in ticket sales. (image courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures)

Moviegoers and critics were at odds again this weekend, as Beverly Hills Chihuahua grossed more than $29 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office.

Based on 19 reviews, the Walt Disney Pictures film currently has a score of 43 (out of 100) at www.metacritic.com. But, ticket-buying audiences probably knew they weren’t going to see a work of art along the lines of a Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King. But, take the Disney brand, toss in a talking canine, appeal to those nostalgic for the “Yo Quiero” Taco Bell Chihuahua, and we have a critic-proof movie, one that kids can drag their parents to for repeat viewings.

Last year’s Alvin & the Chipmunks currently holds th title as the highest-grossing talking-animal film, with $217.3 million and an estimated 31 million-plus tickets sold. However, adjusting for inflation, two movies are right in there with Alvin and company- 1998’s Doctor Dolittle and Disney’s 1996 live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians each sold an estimated 30 million-plus tickets. Other talking-critter releases near the top of the list include 1999’s Stuart Little and 2001’s Doctor Dolittle 2.

While Beverly Hills Chihuahua likely won’t challenge Dalmatians to become Disney’s most successful talking-animal feature, it will outperform last year’s Underdog, which pulled in an underwhelming $43.8 million in ticket sales.

With that, Disney’s latest family picture joins the list of speaking-animal box office successes and likely will spawna sequel. But, Chihuahua unlikely will follow the lead of 1995’s Babe and snag a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Just a hunch…

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