Argo,” based on a true story about six Americans spirited out of Iran during the 1979-80 hostage crisis, topped North America’s weekend box office takings with $12.1 million, figures showed Monday.
In its third week of release, the film directed by and starring Ben Affleck jumped from the second to the top spot, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. It has earned a total of $60.5 million so far.
Second place went to the debut of the genre-busting, time-traveling “Cloud Atlas,” in which Tom Hanks and Halle Berry each play six different roles set across a 500-year span, taking in $9.6 million in ticket sales.
In third spot was the animated film “Hotel Transylvania” about an overprotective vampire dad intent on guarding his adolescent daughter against a budding romance with a human boy. The movie earned $9.4 million.
“Paranormal Activity 4,” the fourth place film, fell three spots from its chart-topping debut last week. The fourth installment in the found-footage franchise raked in $8.5 million.
Fifth place went to the latest in the franchise of “Silent Hill” movies, which earned $8 million in ticket sales.
Action film “Taken 2″ — Liam Neeson’s return as ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills — came in sixth place, with earnings of $7.7 million.
“Here Comes the Boom,” a comedy starring Kevin James as a high school teacher who looks to become a mixed martial arts fighter to raise money for his school, was in seventh place with $5.2 million.
Eighth was action drama “Alex Cross,” starring Tyler Perry as the popular James Patterson detective character, with $5.1 million. Horror flick “Sinister,” starring Ethan Hawke, was ninth with just under $5 million.
Rounding out the top ten was the debut of the Halloween-themed adolescent comedy “Fun Size,” which earned $4.1 million.
Affleck's 'Argo' tops N. America box office
