"The Boss Baby" tops North American box offices with 49 million U.S. dollars weekend

DreamWorks Animation's "The Boss Baby" topped North American box offices with an estimated 49 million U.S. dollars during its debut weekend, dethroning "Beauty and the Beast" with a narrow victory.

The Fox release just managed to edge out Disney's live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast", which collected another 47.5 million U.S. dollars during its third weekend as it domestic gross rose to 395.5 million U.S. dollars. Internationally, "Boss Baby" has taken in 59 million U.S. dollars to date, bringing it worldwide total to 108 million U.S. dollars.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Boss Baby" performed well above expectations that had pegged the movie as doing 30 million-U.S. dollar-plus for the three days. The PG-rated, CG-animated movie stars Alec Baldwin, who voices the character of a business-minded bossy baby who is on a secret mission to ensure babies get more love than puppies. The film directed by Tom McGrath is based on the 2010 children's book written and illustrated by Marla Frazee.

Paramount's new release "Ghost in the Shell" was in third place. The sci-fi action film starring Scarlett Johansson brought in an estimated 19 million U.S. dollars in weekend sales.

Fourth belongs to Lionsgate and Saban's "Power Rangers", which brought in an estimated 14.5 million U.S. dollars. WB and Legendary's "Kong: Skull Island" finished fifth with an estimated 8.8 million U.S. dollars. Endit