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 The Oscar-nominated war film starring Bradley Cooper and
directed by Clint Eastwood finished in second place with $24.2
million at U.S. and Canadian theaters for Friday through Sunday,
according to studio estimates.
Another new release, the special effects-laden space saga
"Jupiter Ascending," took $19 million to claim the No. 3 spot.
"SpongeBob," the second theatrical film based on the animated
television series, follows the yellow sponge and his friends as
they travel to the sea's surface to retrieve a secret recipe
stolen by a pirate played by Antonio Banderas.
The film far exceeded industry forecasts for an opening of about
$35 million.
"The reviews were really excellent, including from some serious,
tough critics," said Megan Colligan, president of worldwide
distribution for Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. which
released the film.
The box office result was also driven by older teens who turned
out in stronger numbers than might be expected for a
family-friendly film, and by "cool adults who have embraced the
character since they were kids and have never let him go,"
Colligan said.
The film, which cost $74 million, has also taken in $27 million
internationally for a global total of $83 million.
"American Sniper," one of the biggest hits of the past year, has
earned more than $282 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters
since going into wide release on Jan. 16. The film received six
nominations for Hollywood's top honors, the Oscars, which will
be handed out on Feb. 22.
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"Jupiter Ascending" stars Channing Tatum as a genetically engineered
interplanetary hunter and Mila Kunis as a down-on-her-luck maid
destined for greatness far beyond Earth.
The film, directed by siblings Andy and Lana Wachowski, cost a
reported $175 million and received weak reviews, with only 22
percent of 152 critics on the aggregator site Rottentomatoes giving
it a "fresh" rating.
Rounding out the top five, another sci-fi film, "Seventh Son"
starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore, sold $7.1 million in
tickets, while the hit “Paddington,” based on the children's book,
took $5.4 million, bringing its total to $57 million in just over
three weeks.
"American Sniper" and "Jupiter Ascending" were released by Warner
Brothers, a unit of Time Warner Inc. "Paddington" was released by
The Weinstein Company. Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures released
"Seventh Son."
(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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