MUMBAI: Resident Evil: Retribution, the horror sequel, grabbed the top spot at the US and Canadian box office over the weekend by amassing $21.1 million (13 million pounds),it is understood. On the other hand, the 3D version of Walt Disney‘s cartoon Finding Nemo took the No. 2 spot in the US and Canadian box-office charts with an intake of $17.5 million, according to Disney.
Resident Evil: Retribution is the fifth film in a franchise that stars Milla Jovovich as heroine Alice in a battle against the Umbrella Corporation and its army of zombies. Domestic sales were in line with distributor Sony‘s pre-weekend projection for the low- to mid-$20 million range.
In international markets, the film added $50 million, for a worldwide total of $71.1 million. It did particularly well in Asia.
Sony president of distribution Rory Bruer credited Jovovich for the continuing success of the Resident Evil franchise.
Meanwhile, people of all ages headed to theatres to see Finding Nemo for the first time in the 3D format. The film ranks as one of the most successful from Disney‘s Pixar animation studio, generating global sales of $868 million during its original run.
Disney spent less than $5 million to convert the film to the 3D format. Although weekend numbers came in slightly lower than Disney‘s original projections, Disney‘s executive vice president for motion picture distribution Dave Hollis said the tally was in line with previous 3D re-release openings.
After two weeks at No. 1, the Demon film The Possession slipped to third place generating sales of $5.8 million.