‘Super Mario’ games out second straight box office win

LOS ANGELES (AFP): “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” retained the top spot in North America’s box office one week after its epic debut, as Universal’s popular game-themed animation again trounced all competitors, estimates showed Sunday.

The joint effort of Universal, Nintendo and Illumination studios raked in $87 million in ticket sales in the Friday-through-Sunday period, bringing the movie’s total haul to more than $347 million, according to Exhibitor Relations.

The industry watcher had already predicted “Super Mario” — with its foundation in one of the most popular video games ever — will be the top movie of the year.

Debuting in a very distant second place was Sony’s “The Pope’s Exorcist,” starring Russell Crowe, which earned $9.1 million.

“This is a solid opening for a modestly-budgeted original horror film,” said analyst David A. Gross.

Third spot belonged to Lionsgate’s neo-noir “John Wick: Chapter 4,” with $7.9 million bringing the thriller’s four-week North America total to $160 million.

Keanu Reeves stars as the titular hitman who finds himself fighting an international crime group.

Horror-comedy “Renfield,” distributed by Universal, pulled in $7.7 million in its opening weekend to place fourth.

And Amazon Studios’ “Air,” a sports drama about the business deal surrounding Nike and the Michael Jordan basketball shoe that gives the name its title, slipped one spot to fifth, bringing in $7.7 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” ($7.3 million)

“Suzume” ($5 million)

“Mafia Mamma” ($2 million)

“Scream VI” ($1.4 million)

“Nefarious” ($1.3 million)