(AFP) “The Wolverine” leapt to the top of the box office in its opening weekend, overtaking horror flick “The Conjuring,” industry estimates showed Sunday.
Starring Hugh Jackman as a clawed mutant, the sixth installment of the X-Men franchise took in $55 million, tracker Exhibitor Relations reported.
“The Conjuring,” starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in a drama about paranormal investigators, scared up an estimated $22 million on its second weekend.
Dropping a notch to third place was “Despicable Me 2,” with Steve Carell as a villain-turned doting father, which made $16 million.
Behind it came “Turbo,” a computer-animated comedy about a speed loving snail, which took in $13.3 million its second weekend in theaters.
“Grown Ups 2,” about a summer reunion of middle-aged men, starring comedians Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, was in fifth place with a weekend return of $11.5 million.
Action comedy “Red 2” was sixth, with a $9.4 million take on its second weekend in theaters. The sequel stars Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren in a hunt for a missing nuclear device.
“Pacific Rim” and its Godzilla-like monsters slipped to seventh place, with $7.5 million, while “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock clung to eighth at $6.8 million in its fifth weekend in theaters.
Supernatural flick “R.I.P.D,” about a police force in the afterlife, was ninth at $5.8 million.
“Fruitvale Station,” a prize-winning drama about the last day in the life of a young black man killed by a police officer at Oakland, California metro station, delivered a box office surprise.
It jumped to 10th place from 17th, making $4.6 million in its third weekend in theaters.