Kidnap drama ‘Prisoners’ tops N. American box office
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Hugh Jackman, left, and Paul Dano in a scene from “Prisoners.” AP
LOS ANGELES – Crime thriller “Prisoners,” about a father whose daughter is mysteriously kidnapped, took the top spot at the North American box office in its debut weekend, industry estimates showed Sunday.
The film, starring Hugh Jackman as a desperate parent in search of his child and Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective in charge of the investigation, pulled in more than $21.4 million over the weekend.
The horror sequel “Insidious: Chapter 2” slid one spot to second place on its second weekend out, raking in $14.5 million, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.
The film, starring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson as a haunted husband and wife, is a follow up to the successful 2010 horror flick “Insidious.”
In third place, “The Family,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro as a mafia clan in witness protection living under the radar in France, earned $7 million.
Comedy-drama “Instructions Not Included,” Eugenio Derbez’s movie about a Mexican playboy who is suddenly presented with a child from a previous liaison and forced to become a father, came in fourth place, taking in $5.7 million.
In its first weekend in theaters “Battle of the Year” a 3D breakdancing saga starring Josh Holloway and rapper Chris Brown, earned $5 million and a fifth place slot in box office sales.
Slipping one spot to sixth place was raunchy adult comedy “We’re the Millers,” about drug smugglers posing as a suburban family, starring Jennifer Aniston as a stripper. It earned nearly $4.7 million in theaters.
Meanwhile, “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” took in $4.3 million, falling to seventh place, down three spots from last week.
The Oscar-tipped drama, about the civil rights era as seen through the eyes of a black White House servant played by Forest Whitaker, has earned more than $106 million since its release.
“Riddick,” the latest in the action franchise starring Vin Diesel, took eighth place in its third week with nearly $3.7 million.
Returning to theaters, but in IMAX 3D, American classic “The Wizard of Oz” celebrated its 75th anniversary by taking in just over $3 million and landing in ninth place in its first weekend out.
Disney’s animated film “Planes,” a spin-off from Pixar’s “Cars” franchise, rounded out the top ten, taking in nearly $2.9 million.
Final figures are expected out Monday.
