The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - ''The Birdcage,'' a comedy staring Robin Williams and Gene Hackman, was the most popular film in the country for the third consecutive weekend, earning $13.3 million.

The thriller ''Executive Decision,'' starring Kurt Russell and Steven Seagal, also did strong business in its second weekend with $9.8 million for the No. 2 spot.

Top 20 films that won Oscars on Monday night included ''Dead Man Walking,'' for which Susan Sarandon won best actress, and ''Leaving Las Vegas,'' for which Nicholas Cage won best actor. ''Dead Man Walking'' earned $1.3 million and tied for 11th place, while ''Leaving Las Vegas'' earned $580,000 at No. 20.

''Sense and Sensibility,'' which won best screenplay based on material previously produced or published, earned $1.1 million and tied for 14th place and ''The Postman (Il Postino),'' which won for original dramatic score, finished at No. 18 with $805,000.

Nominated but passed over for an Oscar, ''Mr. Holland's Opus'' earned $2 million for the No. 8 spot. Richard Dreyfuss was nominated for best actor.

Debuts making the top 10 included ''Diabolique'' and Spike Lee's ''Girl 6.''

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by studio, gross, number of theater locations, receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled by Exhibitor Relations Co. on Monday:

1. ''The Birdcage,'' MGM, $13.3 million, 2,236 locations, $5,946 per location, $60.6 million, three weeks.

2. ''Executive Decision,'' Warner Bros., $9.8 million, 2,289 locations, $4,271 per location, $26 million, two weeks.

3. ''Diabolique,'' Warner Bros., $5.5 million, 1,824 locations, $3,029 per location, $5.5 million, one week.

4. ''Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco,'' Disney, $4.18 million, 2,124 locations, $1,971 per location, $22.3 million, three weeks.

5. ''Up Close and Personal,'' Disney, $4.17 million, 1,639 locations, $2,546 per location, $35.9 million, four weeks.

6. ''Fargo,'' Gramercy, $2.8 million, 412 locations, $6,827 per location, $5.1 million, three weeks.

7. ''Girl 6,'' 20th Century Fox, $2.5 million, 1,077 locations, $2,308 per location, $2.5 million, one week.

8. ''Mr. Holland's Opus,'' Disney, $2 million, 1,491 locations, $1,324 per location, $72.8 million, eight weeks.

9. ''Down Periscope,'' 20th Century Fox, $1.9 million, 1,588 locations, $1,212 per location, $21 million, four weeks.

10. ''Broken Arrow,'' 20th Century Fox, $1.5 million, 1,463 locations, $1,011 per location, $64.6 million, seven weeks.

11. (tied) ''Happy Gilmore,'' Universal, $1.3 million, 1,287 locations, $1,035 per location, $33.7 million, six weeks.

12. (tied) ''Dead Man Walking,'' Gramercy, $1.3 million, 770 locations, $1,720 per location, $30.2 million, 13 weeks.

13. (tied) ''Race The Sun,'' Sony, $1.1 million, 1,218 locations, $917 per location, $1.1 million, one week.

14. (tied) ''Rumble In The Bronx,'' New Line, $1.1 million, 1,044 locations, $1,057 per location, $29 million, five weeks.

15. (tied) ''Sense and Sensibility,'' Columbia, $1.1 million, 1,000 locations, $1,068 per location, $39 million, 15 weeks.

16. ''Ed,'' Universal, $1 million, 1,588 locations, $663 per location, $3.5 million, two weeks.

17. ''Muppet Treasure Island,'' Disney, $807,000, 1,089 locations, $742 per location, $32 million, six weeks.

18. ''The Postman,'' Miramax, $805,000, 430 locations, $1,871 per location, $16.3 million, 41 weeks.

19. ''Hellraiser: Bloodline,'' Miramax, $601,000, 914 locations, $657 per location, $8.4 million, three weeks.

20. ''Leaving Las Vegas,'' MGM, $584,000, 488 locations, $1,196 per location, $28 million, 22 weeks.