‘Pain and Gain’ grabs top spot at US box office

LOS ANGELES – Action comedy “Pain & Gain” starring Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson grabbed the top spot at the US box office in its debut this weekend, snagging $20 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The Paramount Pictures production about bodybuilders caught up in crime pushed “Oblivion” into second place, according to tracker Exhibitor Relations.

The post-apocalyptic action flick starring Tom Cruise picked up $17.4 million in ticket sales, ahead of “42,” a biopic about trailblazing black baseball star Jackie Robinson, which came third with $10.7 million.

The fourth spot, with $7.5 million, went to new arrival “The Big Wedding” – a star-studded comedy featuring Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton and Robin Williams.

“The Croods”— a stone-age cartoon- came fifth, collecting $6.6 million, outperforming action sequel “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” which earned $3.6 million.

“Scary Movie 5,” the latest installment in the slasher-comedy franchise, took the seventh spot with $3.5 million.

Action thriller “Olympus Has Fallen,” in which terrorists capture the White House and hold the president hostage, followed with $2.8 million.

“The Place Beyond the Pines,” starring Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper trailed in ninth place with $2.7 million.

Rounding out the top 10 at $2.3 million was the 3D re-release of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 dinosaur classic “Jurassic Park.”