Despite the launch of a big fantasy film and a competing sequel, it was all about James Wan's return to horror with The Conjuring 2 this weekend at the American box office. The follow-up to the 2013 hit looks to be doing well right away, taking in $40.3 million from its first three days, according to studio estimates.
The Conjuring 2's opening is roughly in line with the original,which made $41.8 million. And given that film went on to earn more than $318 million worldwide, hopes are high for this one. Especially given the $40 million budget, which means less to recoup than some of the bigger films.
Second place was Warcraft, which as we've previously reported, is doing big business in China and elsewhere, but couldn't make much of an impact in the States. That $24.3 million opening is far from joyful for a film that cost more than $160 million to make, and more to market, but there's a good chance the foreign totals will come into play more if there is to be a sequel. And with $286.1 million worldwide so far, it's not like Legendary and Universal have to worry too much about the US earnings just yet.
Now You See Me 2 also proved to be less than magical, taking in $23 million, a dip from its own original's $29.3 million kick off. That movie proved to be a sleeper hit, ending up with more than $351 million globally, and the question will be whether the sequel can live up to that.
The new arrivals pushed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows down to fourth place as the film earned $14.8 million. X-Men: Apocalypse fell to fifth and $10 million, with its US total at $136.3 million, and despite $438.8 million worldwide thus far, it's still running far behind Days Of Future Past.
In sixth was Me Before You with $9.2 million, ahead of The Angry Birds Movie, which took in $6.7 million at seventh. Alice Through The Looking Glass fell to eighth after three weeks, and with $62.4 million and $213 million globally, is a far cry from the first film's billion dollar club membership.
Talking of that club, Captain America: Civil War (firmly part of it) was ninth, adding $4.3 million for $396.8 million, and The Jungle Book, which may just fall short of membership, earned $2.7 million.