Top 10 movies

‘Taken 3’ takes top spot from ‘Hobbit’

LOS ANGELES — After three weeks atop the box office, “The Hobbit” has been taken down by Liam Neeson. “Taken 3” nabbed the top spot at the weekend box office with $40.4 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The third installment of the 20th Century Fox thriller series stars Mr. Neeson as a vengeance-seeking retired CIA operative with “a very particular set of skills.” The original “Taken,” which also features Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen, debuted in 2009 with $24.7 million, while “Taken 2” launched in 2012 with $49.5 million. “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” slid to fourth place with $9.4 million following three straight weeks in first place. The total domestic take for filmmaker Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth finale now stands at $236.5 million. “Into the Woods” milked $9.7 million in third place in its third week at the box office, bringing the total haul of Disney’s Broadway musical adaptation to $105.3 million. BOX OFFICE: Estimated ticket sales in millions for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. 1. “Taken 3” ................................... $40.4. 2. “Selma” .................................... $11.2. 3. “Into the Woods” ..................... $9.7. 4. “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” ........................................................ $9.4. 5. “Unbroken” ................................. $8.7. 6. “The Imitation Game” .................. $7.6. 7. “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” ............................................. $6.7. 8. “Annie” ...................................... $4.9. 9. “The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death” ..................................................... $4.8. 10. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1” ....................................... $3.7.