While analysts said Monday that they were disappointed with the opening weekend for DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.'s "Bee Movie," a Goldman Sachs analyst said the film's gross could still reach Wall Street estimates.



"Bee Movie," featuring the voices of Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger and Chris Rock among others, earned an estimated $39.1 million in its first weekend. Analysts expected about $40 million on average.

Goldman Sachs analyst Anthony Noto forecast $50 million in ticket sales and a final box office gross of $200 million. He said the movie is on pace to earn $156 million to $188 million, but second-week results will be crucial.



Computer animated films released in November typically have stronger second weeks than those released earlier in the year, Noto said, and "Bee Movie" won't have to compete with other family movies until its fourth weekend.

Noto has a "Buy" rating on DreamWorks Animation shares, with a price target of $37. The stock closed at $31.37 Friday.

Cowen & Co. analyst Doug Creutz called the results "mildly disappointing," and said the movie will probably not reach the gross of $175 million expected by Wall Street.

"We think that the film needed to earn $50 million in domestic box office this weekend to put it on track to meet our $166 million target," he wrote. "There is a meaningful probability that the film could miss the low end of analyst estimates at $150 million."