This story is free to read.

‘Lucy’ smacks down ‘Hercules’ in box office bout

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Scarlett Johansson in a scene from "Lucy." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Jessica Forde) This image released by Universal Pictures shows Scarlett Johansson in a scene from "Lucy." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Jessica Forde)

By Associated Press July 28, 2014 2 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Scarlett Johansson-led action flick “Lucy” took it to stalwart action star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “Hercules” over the weekend for the No. 1 spot at the box office.

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, are:

1. “Lucy,” Universal, $43,899,340, 3,173 locations, $13,835 average, $43,899,340, 1 week.

2. “Hercules,” MGM/Paramount, $29,800,263, 3,595 locations, $8,289 average, $29,800,263, 1 week.

3. “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” 20th Century Fox, $16,767,260, 3,668 locations, $4,571 average, $172,455,888, 3 weeks.