'Boots' takes Friday B.O.

Judging by early Friday grosses, "Puss in Boots" will take the top spot at the weekend box office. Observers say the Paramount-Dreamworks Animation 3D pic should gross in the mid-thirties. Depending on how Friday-night crowds turn out, though, the film could see slightly higher earnings of around $38 million. For comparative numbers, "Puss in Boots" was tracking below DWA's 2010 fall entry "Megamind," which opened to $46 million during the weekend of Nov. 5. Twentieth Century Fox's "In Time," with an expected three-day perf of $12 million to $13 million, should beat FilmDistrict's "Rum Diary." B.O. observers expect Johnny Depp-toplined "Diary" to gross between $6 million and $8 million -- not surprising given the film's limited target demo. Some tracking services from earlier this week suggested the pic could earn between $8 million and $11 million, based on the popularity of Johnny Depp. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com