New York: The Walt Disney Co.'s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has knocked Joker out of the No. 1 spot at the box office, but just barely.
Studios on Sunday estimate that the film starring Angelina Jolie grossed $36 million in North America and $117 million internationally in its first weekend in theaters. The first film had a much stronger domestic showing, opening to nearly $70 million domestically in 2014.
Warner Bros.' Joker landed in second place in its third weekend with $29.2 million. The villain origin story has grossed over $247 million domestically.
Third place went to another sequel, Columbia Pictures' Zombieland: Double Tap with $26.7 million. The R-rated comedy comes 10 years after the original.
READ | Joaquin Phoenix 'embarrassed' by his diva behaviour in Joker BTS video
And in limited release, Taika Waititi's Nazi satire Jojo Rabbit opened in five theaters with a strong $350,000.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil claims No. 1 over Joker - Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, $36 million ($117 million international).
- Joker, $29.5 million.
- Zombieland: Double Tap, $26.7 million.
- The Addams Family, $16.1 million.
- Gemini Man, $8.5 million.
- Abominable, $3.5 million.
- Downton Abbey, $3.1 million.
- Judy, $2.1 million.
- Hustlers, $2.1 million.
- It: Chapter Two, $1.5 million.
With inputs from APTN