LOS ANGELES: Enough viewers saw “The Invisible Man” this weekend to propel it to the top of the North American box office, with an estimated US$28.9 million in ticket sales, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday.
That result for the Friday-to-Sunday period more than justified Universal’s bet on a remake of the famous H.G. Wells story – the studio spent a mere US$7 million to produce the film, which has already taken in US$20 million overseas and drawn strong reviews.
The thriller stars the visibly talented Elisabeth Moss as the ex-girlfriend of a man (British actor Oliver Jackson-Cohen) who seems to return to haunt her after supposedly committing suicide.
Slipping from the top spot in its third week out was Paramount’s adventure comedy “Sonic the Hedgehog,” at US$16 million. Jim Carrey stars as the villainous Dr. Robotnik in the video-game-based film.
In third place was 20th Century’s “The Call of the Wild,” starring Harrison Ford, at US$13.2 million. The story is loosely based on the Jack London classic, set in the wilds of Alaska and Canada’s Klondike region.
Fourth spot went to a new Japanese manga film, “My Hero Academia,” from Funimation, at US$5.1 million. It tells the story of a young boy, often bullied, who finds his way into a prestigious high school for superheroes-in-training.
And in fifth, still strong in its seventh week out, was Sony’s “Bad Boys for Life,” at US$4.3 million. The action comedy, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has passed the US$400 million mark worldwide.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
“Birds of Prey” (US$4.1 million)
“Impractical Jokers: The Movie” (US$3.5 million)
“1917” (US$2.7 million)
“Brahms: The Boy II” (US$2.6 million)
“Fantasy Island” (US$2.3 million). - AFP