This film image released by Universal Pictures shows Mark Wahlberg (right) with the character Ted, voiced by Seth MacFarlane in a scene from "Ted." AP/Universal Pictures
LOS ANGELES—”Ted,” starring Mark Wahlberg and his raunchy teddy bear pal, topped the North American box office this weekend, besting the male strippers of “Magic Mike,” industry figures showed Monday.
“Ted” — a film directed by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane in which Wahlberg’s childhood toy comes to life — earned $54.4 million in its debut, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
“Magic Mike,” starring Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey as male strippers, raked in $39.1 million in ticket sales in its opening weekend.
“Brave,” Pixar’s 3D fairytale about a Scottish princess trying to rescue her mother from an evil witch, dropped from first to third place, taking in $34.1 million.
Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Witness Protection” debuted in fourth place with $25.4 million in ticket sales. Animated hit sequel “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” dropped to fifth place at $11.8 million.
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” a slasher flick casting America’s 16th president as a crusader against both slavery and vampires, earned $6 million for sixth place.
It was followed by “Moonrise Kingdom,” the latest from director Wes Anderson starring Bill Murray, Bruce Willis and Edward Norton. The indie coming-of-age film took in $4.93 million.
Eighth place went to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi adventure “Prometheus” with a whisker less, at $4.92 million in ticket sales.
“Snow White and the Huntsman,” a new twist on the classic fairy tale starring Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart, finished in ninth place with $4.5 million.
Rounding out the top 10 was record-breaking blockbuster “The Avengers,” which earned $4.4 million, and which has earned over $600 million since its release in early May.