Military thriller “Rules of Engagement” brought to a halt the three-week winning streak enjoyed by Julia Roberts’ “Erin Brockovich,” to triumph in the North American box office battle over the weekend.

The courtroom drama about friendship involves a tough Marine colonel (Samuel L. Jackson), who is court-martialed after a mission he leads to free a besieged U.S. embassy fails. His Vietnam War buddy (Tommy Lee Jones), now a mediocre military attorney, defends him at his trial.