'IT' stays atop box office but 'Hustlers' draws raves
Horror film 'IT Chapter Two' stayed atop the North American box office this weekend.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Horror film "IT Chapter Two" stayed atop the North American box office this weekend, but the buzzy new Jennifer Lopez movie "Hustlers" notched a strong second place, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
The latest Stephen King-inspired "IT" film, starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Skarsgard, earned Warner Bros. an estimated $40.7 million for the three-day period, down from its $91 million opening last weekend.
"Hustlers," based on a true story about strippers who plot to steal from their wealthy clients in recession-hit New York, took in $33.2 million for STX Films, that studio s best start ever. J-Lo has gotten rave reviews: "Rolling Stone" called her "dazzling," "electrifying" and Oscar-worthy.
"Hustlers" also stars Constance Wu of "Crazy Rich Asians" fame, along with Julia Stiles, Cardi B and Lizzo.
Lionsgate s "Angel Has Fallen," with Gerard Butler as a Secret Service agent accused of attempting to kill the US president, notched $4.4 million to place a distant third.
In fourth was "Good Boys," a raunchy tween comedy from Universal, at $4.3 million.
And in fifth place was Disney s updated "The Lion King," at $3.6 million. Its North American total has surpassed $533 million, making it the 12th largest domestic release of all time, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
Meantime, Warner Bros. widely promoted drama "The Goldfinch," adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, earned a mere $2.6 million in what the Hollywood Reporter called "one of the worst starts ever" for a movie in wide release.
