Action sequel, Expendables 2 easily topped the US box office in its opening weekend with $28.8 million. But in spite of having more star power such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the sequel failed to match the $34.8 million debut of its predecessor in 2010.
The rest of the films cast, includes Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren and Terry Crews.
The second spot was claimed by another action sequel, The Bourne Legacy, which earned $17 million in the US box office in its second weekend, totaling $69.6 million. The film was no. 4 in the international market, grossing $18.2 million. Its worldwide cume so far stands at $97.7 million.
3D Stop-motion animation, ParaNorman, landed in the third place, opening with $14.0 million. The film was produced by the producers of Coraline, which opened with $16.8 million in 2009.
Voiced by Casey Affleck, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Anna Kendrick and Leslie Mann, ParaNorman tells the story of a boy who must stop the destruction of his town by a witchs spell.
Will Ferrells raunchy political comedy The Campaign placed no. 4, grossing $13.4 million in its second weekend, followed by musical drama Sparkle -Whitney Houstons final movie – which drew $12 million.
The Dark Knight Rises lands in the 6th spot in the US box office with $11.1 million, but remained on top of the international box office for the fifth consecutive weekend with $20.6 million, hoisting its international cume to $487.8 million.
The Colin Farrell-starring remake, Total Recall, had to be content with no. 10 in the US box office with only $3.5 million, but was ranked second in the international box office, raising its international gross to $58.2 million.
Still playing strong overseas in its 17th round, The Avengers was no. 4 (total international gross $863.9 million), followed by Pixars animation title Brave, which has accumulated $179.12 million thus far.