‘The Wolverine’ leads box office pack

LOS ANGELES, USA – “The Wolverine” leapt to the top of the box office in its opening weekend, overtaking horror flick “The Conjuring,” industry estimates showed Sunday.

‘The Wolverine’: Kickass telenovela

Starring Hugh Jackman as a clawed mutant, the 6th installment of the X-Men franchise took in US$55-M, tracker Exhibitor Relations reported.

READ: Domo arigato, Mr. ‘Wolverine’

WebHits: Wolverine the Musical

“The Conjuring,” starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in a drama about paranormal investigtors, scared up an estimated US$22-M on its second weekend.

Dropping a notch to 3rd place was “Despicable Me 2,” with Steve Carell as a villain-turned doting father, which made US$16-M.

READ: Antics, daddy woes in ‘Despicable Me 2’

Behind it came “Turbo,” a computer-animated comedy about a speed loving snail, which took in US$13.3-M its second weekend in theaters.

READ: Lively cast fuels ‘Turbo’

“Grown Ups 2,” about a summer reunion of middle-aged men, starring comedians Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, was in 5th place with a weekend return of US$11.5-M.

Action comedy “Red 2” was 6th, with a $9.4-M 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 7th place, with US$7.5-M, while “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock clung to 8th at US$6.8-M in its 5th weekend in theaters.

READ: Smashing action, mayhem in ‘Pacific Rim’

Supernatural flick “R.I.P.D,” about a police force in the afterlife, was 9th at US$5.8-M.

“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 US$4.6-M in its 3rd weekend in theaters. – Rappler.com