‘MALEFICENT’ SEQUEL TOPS N. AMERICAN BOX OFFICE
LOS ANGELES—DISNEY’S new “Maleficent :Mistress of Evil” toppe dt hen orth American box offi cef ort he weekend wit han estimate dt ake o f $36 m illion despite falling far below the original 2014 film, an industry group reporte do n Sunday.
The original “Maleficent,” also starring Angeli na J olie, took in $69.4 million in its debut weekend ,g oing on to earn $758 million globally. Bot hf ilms follow the evil sorceress of “Sleeping Beauty” fame; Michelle Pfeiffer plays a scheming Queen Ingrith in the latest movie.
Slipping to secon di n its third week out was “Joker ”from warner Bros., at $29.2 millio nf ort he Friday-to-sund ay period, Exhibitor Relations said .I t stars Joaquin Phoenix in a backstory abou tt he rise o fba tman’s maniacal nemesis.
In third place was new Sony release “Zombieland :D ouble Tap,” at $26.7 millio n.w it has tarladen cast, including woody harrelson, Emma Stone, Luke Wilson and Rosario Dawson, the zombie comedy is expecte d to r emain strong through t he m onth-end Halloween holiday.
In f ourth was another Halloween-friend ly f ilm, United Artists’ “The Addams Family,” at $16.1 million. The computer-animated movie, which follows the spoo ky addams family and some creepy relatives, features t hev oices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Snoo pd ogg and Bett em idler .A live-actio nve rsion in 1991 grossed $113.5 million in the United States.
An di nf ifth was Paramount’s “Gemini Man,” starring will Smith asa retired hitman who must face off against ay ounger clone o fh imself. It took in $8.5 million.
Rounding ou tt he weekend’s to p 10 we re: “Abominable” ($3.5 million), “Downton Abbey” ($3.1 million), “Judy” ($2.1 million), “Hustlers” ($2.1 million), and “IT: Chapter Two” ($1.5 million).