Universal's F9: The Fast Saga remained at top speed over the weekend, earning an estimated $23.8 million to hold its lead in North American box offices, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
That total, covering just the first three days of the four-day July 4 holiday weekend, was down sharply from the zoom-bang-bam action film's opening total of $70 million.
Still, this ninth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise—starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and John Cena—fended off two strong new challengers. In fact, Universal pulled off a rare hat trick, dominating all three top box-office spots.
That studio's animated sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business placed second, at $17.3 million. The latest yarn about a can-do "boss baby" who energizes—or infuriates—all around him features the voices of Alec Baldwin, Eva Longoria, Jeff Goldblum, Lisa Kudrow, and Jimmy Kimmel.
In third was horror film The Forever Purge, headed for a $12.8 million take. This fifth, and purportedly last, in the Purge series is again set in a dystopian near-future where all crime, including murder, is made legal one day a year. Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta star.
Fourth spot went to Paramount's A Quiet Place: Part II, at $4.2 million while The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard came in fifth at $3 million. AFP