LOS ANGELES — Movie fans are spending some face time with a story about the founders of Facebook.

"The Social Network," director David Fincher's drama about the quarrelsome creation of the online juggernaut, debuted as the No. 1 weekend film with $23 million.

Distributor Sony hopes for a long shelf life for the film, which has earned Academy Awards buzz and rave reviews. Rory Bruer, Sony's head of distribution, said "The Social Network" has a good shot at becoming a $100 million hit.

The weekend's other new wide releases had weak starts. Paramount's horror flick "Case 39," starring Renee Zellweger, opened at No. 7 with $5.35 million, while Overture Film's vampire tale "Let Me In" debuted at No. 8 with $5.3 million.

The Warner Bros. animated adventure "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," held up well, retaining the No. 2 spot in its second weekend with $10.9 million and raising its total to $30 million.

Last weekend's top earner, 20th Century Fox's "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," slipped to third place with $10.1 million, lifting its total to $35.9 million.