LOS ANGELES (AP) – “Spectre,” the latest in the James Bond series, skyrocketed to the top of the box office without much resistance, earning $70.4 million in its first days in U.S. theaters. This is slightly lower than the Sunday estimates and a far cry from “Skyfall’s” $88.4 million debut in 2012, but it is still the second highest domestic opening ever for the franchise – which has already netted around $300 million worldwide.
Part of the reason was the competition of Fox’s animated “The Peanuts Movie,” which came in second place with a healthy $44.2 million.
After weeks in the top spot, “The Martian” fell to No. 3 with $9.1 million. Holdovers “Goosebumps” and “Bridge of Spies” rounded out the top five with $6.8 million and $5.8 million, respectively.
The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Rentrak:
1. “Spectre,” Sony, $70,403,148, 3,929 locations, $17,919 average, $70,403,148, 1 week.