DC’s ‘Super-Pets’ tops N.America box office

NNA – Animated superhero pic « DC League of Super-Pets » pulled in an estimated $23 million this weekend in a moderate opening that still managed to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

The Warner Bros. film, based on the DC Comics’ Legion of Super-Pets, follows Superman’s pet pooch Krypto (AKA Bark Kent), who joins up with a shelter dog and others to rescue other four-footed innocents being held by the evil Lex Luthor.

Analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research classed the opening as « moderate » but said similar films have shown the « legs » to draw well for weeks. The « Super-Pets » are voiced by Dwayne Johnson, John Krasinski, Kate McKinnon and Keanu Reeves.

In second place for the Friday-through-Sunday period was last weekend’s box office topper, Universal’s horror flick « Nope » from director Jordan Peele. The alien invasion sci-fi mystery, which stars Daniel Kaluuya, took in $18.6 million.

In third, down one spot from last weekend, was Disney’s « Thor: Love and Thunder. » The action comedy, starring a muscle-clad Chris Hemsworth as the space Viking who pines for his ex-girlfriend (Natalie Portman), pulled in $13.1 million.

Universal’s computer-animated « Minions: The Rise of Gru » claimed the fourth spot. The latest goofy episode in the popular « Despicable Me » franchise took in $10.9 million. Its worldwide total now stands close to $700 million.

And in fifth was Paramount’s crowd-pleasing « Top Gun: Maverick, » with Tom Cruise now as a somewhat aging — but still fast and fearless — US navy test pilot.

It earned $8.2 million, taking its worldwide total to $1.3 billion — the only 2022 release to top the $1 billion mark, according to Variety.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

« Where the Crawdads Sing » ($7.5 million)

« Elvis » ($5.8 million)

« The Black Phone » ($2.5 million)

« Jurassic World: Dominion » ($2.1 million)

« Vengeance » ($1.8 million)

— AFP

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