LOS ANGELES — Disney's new Maleficent: Mistress of Evil topped the North American box office for the weekend with an estimated take of US$36 million despite falling far below the original 2014 film, an industry group reported on Sunday.

Actors Angelina Jolie (left) and Michelle Pfeiffer pose during the European premiere of Disney's fantasy adventure film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil on October 7, 2019 in Rome. AFP/VNA Photo

The original Maleficent, also starring Angelina Jolie, took in US$69.4 million in its debut weekend, going on to earn $758 million globally. Both films follow the evil sorceress of Sleeping Beauty fame; Michelle Pfeiffer plays a scheming Queen Ingrith in the latest movie.

Slipping to second in its third week out was Joker from Warner Bros., at $29.2 million for the Friday-to-Sunday period, Exhibitor Relations said. It stars Joaquin Phoenix in a backstory about the rise of Batman's maniacal nemesis.

In third place was new Sony release "Zombieland: Double Tap, at $26.7 million. With a star-laden cast including Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Luke Wilson and Rosario Dawson, the zombie comedy is expected to remain strong through the month-end Halloween holiday.

In fourth was another Halloween-friendly film, United Artists' The Addams Family, at $16.1 million. The computer-animated movie, which follows the spooky Addams family and some creepy relatives, features the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Snoop Dogg and Bette Midler. A live-action version in 1991 grossed $113.5 million in the US.

And in fifth was Paramount's Gemini Man, starring Will Smith as a retired hitman who must face off against a younger clone of himself. It took in $8.5 million. — AFP