LOS ANGELES:

The opening of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” is dominating a moderate weekend at the US box office with an estimated $36 million, slightly better than half of the original’s launch.

Paramount’s action-comedy sequel took in $12.5 million at 4,071 sites on Friday, easily outdistancing the first day of Emilia Clarke’s romantic drama “Me Before You” at $7.8 million at 2,704 locations and the eighth day of “X-Men: Apocalypse” with $6.6 million.

Fox’s ninth version of its “XMen” franchise was headed for a second weekend of $22.3 million at 4,153 locations, in a sharp 66% decline that’s typical of “XMen” titles. “Apocalypse” will finish the frame with more than $116 million domestically.

“Me Before You” which generated an A Cinemascore from attendees, looks likely to wind up the weekend with $18.3 million — at the top of recent forecasts.

Universal’s surreal Andy Samberg comedy “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” launched quietly with $1.8 million at 2,311 screens, projecting to less than $5 million for the weekend.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” which generated an A- Cinemascore, came into the marketplace amid expectations that had been elevated by the surprisingly strong showing of the 2014 original film — which finished with a $195 million domestic gross and $493.2 million worldwide. (RTRS)