Pirates has sea legs; Baywatch is belly up

It was smooth sailing to the top spot at the box office for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, but the waters were choppier for the Dwayne Johnson comedy Baywatch.

Studio estimates on Sunday said the fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise commandeered $62.2 million (U.S.) in its first three days in theatres. The Johnny Depp film is projected to take in $76.6 million over the four-day U.S. holiday weekend. It was the secondlowest domestic opening for the nearly $4-billion franchise, but the latest film has massive international appeal. Its four-day global total is expected to hit $300 million.

Baywatch, meanwhile, is sinking like a rock. The critically derided update of the ’90s TV show earned $18.1 million over the weekend against a nearly $70-million price tag.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore: 1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, $62.2 million 2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, $19.9 million 3. Baywatch, $18.1 million 4. Alien: Covenant, $10.5 million 5. Everything, Everything, $6.2 million The Associated Press