Espionage spoof ‘Spy’ tops at box office

Actors Jude Law, left, Melissa McCarthy and Jason Statham pose for photographers upon their arrival for the European premiere of ‘Spy’ in central London May 27, 2015. AP

WASHINGTON, United States – The comedy espionage spoof “Spy” took in $30 million in its debut weekend as it topped the box office charts, industry figures showed Sunday.

The movie stars Melissa McCarthy as CIA analyst with a hohum desk job but a knack for being a discrete hero in risky missions carried out by others. But this time she goes deep undercover in the world of arms trafficking when two agents — played by Jason Statham and Jude Law — get in trouble, and works to head off a global disaster.

Mega-disaster epic “San Andreas,” which topped box office sales in its debut last weekend at $54.6, was in second place as the blockbuster summer season gathers pace at $26.4 million, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

The big-budget spectacular stars Dwayne Johnson as a rescue pilot teaming up with his estranged wife to rescue their daughter after temblors unleash chaos on Los Angeles and San Francisco. The film’s title refers to a much-feared, major geological fault in California.

Third place went to the new flick “Insidious: Chapter 3”, at $23 million. It is a prequel to the story of a family connected to the spirit world, and here a psychic contacts the dead to help a teen targeted by a supernatural entity.

Another movie making its debut, Entourage — adapted from HBO TV sitcom about an actor and his childhood buddies living the high life in Hollywood — was fourth with $10.4 million in revenue. It stars Adrian Grenier playing A-list movie star Vince Chase.

“Mad Max: Fury Road,” the fourth film of the iconic “Mad Max” franchise and the first in 30 years, dropped a rank to fifth place from last week, taking in $8 million.

“Pitch Perfect” fell from second place to sixth at $7.7 million. Starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, the musical comedy sequel follows the fortunes of the Barden Bellas singing team as they chase international success after being banned from the competitive circuit.

In seventh place, slipping from third last week, was Disney’s “Tomorrowland,” the sci-fi adventure drama starring George Clooney. It took in $7 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were superhero blockbuster “Avengers: Age of Ultron” at $6.2; “Aloha”, the Hawaii-based romantic comedy starring Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone, which brought in $3.3; and “Poltergeist”, a 3D remake of the 1982 horror classic about a family home haunted by evil forces that abduct a young girl, at $2.8 million.