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‘Guardians’ tops Labor Day, summer box office

FILE - This undated image released by Disney - Marvel shows, from left, Zoe Saldana, the character Rocket Racoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, the character Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel and Dave Bautista in a scene from "Guardians Of The Galaxy".(AP Photo/Disney - Marvel, File) FILE - This undated image released by Disney - Marvel shows, from left, Zoe Saldana, the character Rocket Racoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, the character Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel and Dave Bautista in a scene from "Guardians Of The Galaxy".(AP Photo/Disney - Marvel, File)

By Associated Press September 1, 2014 1 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The intergalactic misfits of “Guardians of the Galaxy” are the summer’s box-office superheroes.

According to studio estimates Monday, the Marvel space adventure topped the Labor Day box office with a three-day take of $22 million – its third time in first place since its release five weeks ago. With North American ticket sales of more than $280 million so far, “Guardians” is also the summer’s – and the year’s – top-grossing film to date.

Paramount’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” grabbed second place with $15.7 million, followed by Warner Bros.’ young-adult drama, “If I Stay” with $11.6 million.