LOS ANGELES – Disney’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 a much stronger domestic showing, opening to nearly $70 million in 2014.
“Joker” landed in second place in its third weekend with $29.2 million. The villain origin story has grossed more than $247 million domestically.
Third place went to another sequel, “Zombieland: Double Tap,” with $26.7 million. The R-rated comedy comes 10 years after the original.
Rounding out the rest of the top five: The animated version of “The Addams Family,” starring the voices of Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac, finished fourth with $16.1 million, and Will Smith’s “Gemini Man” was fifth with $8.5 million.
And in limited release, Taika Waititi’s Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit” opened in five theaters with a strong $350,000.
Final numbers are expected Monday.