WASHINGTON — The espionage comedy Kingsman: The Golden Circle dominated North American box offices in its debut weekend, industry figures showed Sunday.

It ousted It, a freaky horror hit which had held the crown for two weeks.

With a star-studded cast featuring Colin Firth, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry and even Elton John, Kingsman raked in an estimated US$39 million for the weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations.

The sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Golden Circle sees British spy organisation Kingsman join forces with American counterpart Statesman to take on a new global threat.

It, based on a Stephen King novel and starring Bill Skarsgard as a creepy clown who menaces a sleepy Maine town, earned an estimated $30 million -- half its take last weekend.

But having stormed the box office in its opening weekend with revenue of $123 million, It still boasts impressive earnings of $266.3 million in only three weeks.

In at third was new animation The Lego Ninjago Movie, the third installment of Warner Bros. The Lego Movie franchise, which made $21.2 million.

Trailing far behind in fourth was American Assassin, starring Dylan O’Brien as a CIA "black ops" recruit who teams up with crusty veteran agent Michael Keaton to fight terrorists. The film took in just $6.2 million, bringing its total earnings to $21.6 million in two weeks.

Now in its third week, Open Road Films’ Home Again dropped one place to fifth with a take of $3.3 million. With earnings totaling $22.3 million, the romantic comedy stars Reese Witherspoon as a newly single woman whose life changes when three young men move into her house.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

Mother! ($3.2 million)

Friend Request ($2.4 million)

The Hitman’s Bodyguard ($1.8 million)

Stronger ($1.7 million)

Wind River ($1.2 million). — VNS