LOS ANGELES — The undead were alive and well at movie theaters as Woody Harrelson's horror comedy "Zombieland" opened on top with $25 million, according to studio estimates yesterday.

Yet the general box office was less lively as a flurry of new wide releases did solid to ho-hum business. Overall Hollywood revenues came in at $113.4 million, down 4 percent from the same weekend last year.

Sony scored a one-two punch with "Zombieland" and the animated family tale "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," which took in $16.7 million, slipping to second place after two weekends at No. 1. The movie raised its domestic total to $82.4 million after three weekends.

ARGENTINE FOLK SINGER MERCEDES SOSA DIES

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa, the "voice of Latin America" whose music inspired opponents of South America's brutal military regimes and led to her forced exile in Europe, died yesterday, her family said. She was 74.

Her remains lay in state at the National Congress, where thousands of people — many with flowers or Argentine flags — lined up to pay respects to one of the region's most iconic voices.

Affectionately dubbed "La Negra" or "The Black One" by fans for her mixed Indian and distant French ancestry, Sosa was best known for signature tunes such as "Gracias a la Vida" ("Thanks to Life") and "Si se Calla el Cantor" ("If the Singer is Silenced").

Her latest album, "Cantora 1," is nominated for three prizes in next month's Latin Grammy awards in Las Vegas, including album of the year and best folkloric album.

'CRASH' CAST PICKS UP TAB FOR HOMELESS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The cast and crew of the TV series "Crash" have done a good deed for some of Albuquerque's homeless.

The series, which airs on the Starz network, has shot several scenes at the Noon Day Ministry center, so the cast and crew raised enough money to feed between 300 and 400 people at the downtown shelter on Saturday. The shelter usually can't afford to feed people on Saturdays.

Actor Ross McCall said he thought it would be a good way to give back to the community.

The cast is also running a clothing drive on the set to help the homeless.

REGGAE MUSICIAN SLASHED BY NEIGHBOR

NEW YORK — Jamaican reggae artist Major Mackerel says he's been slashed in the head, arm and hand by a New York City man wielding a 2-foot sword.

Police say one of the musician's Brooklyn neighbors was arrested and the sword was recovered yesterday morning.

Major Mackerel, whose real name is Garfield Dixon, was hospitalized for several hours. He left the hospital with bandages on his head, left hand, wrist and elbow.

His girlfriend, Novia Watson, says the neighbor said he was angry because the reggae artist was harassing his wife. But Watson says the artist never messed with her.