Movie

Though failing to match the impressive opening of its predecessor 'The Da Vinci Code', Tom Hanks-starring 'Angels and Demons' digs up enough gold at the weekend box office to top 'Star Trek' earning.

• May 18, 2009

AceShowbiz - "Angels & Demons" has answered the often-thrown-in question on whether or not it could dethrone "Star Trek" by securing North American box office's top slot. Over the weekend, the sequel to 2006 hit "The Da Vinci Code" hauled in $46 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada.

Despite its prominent rank at the box office this weekend, "Angels" did not meet industry's expectation which was projected around $53 million to $57 million. Compared to its predecessor, this Ron Howard-directed thriller earned much less since its opening bow was around 37|percent| off from "Da Vinci" which stormed the box office with $77.1 million debut.

Still, the movie's start number marked the second-biggest opening for a Tom Hanks movie. It is also placed among the largest earner in the adult thriller category. Additionally, the movie that follows Professor Langdon in his effort to save Vatican from deadly threat made an impressive run on its international debut, raking in around $104.3 million from 96 territories.

Hot on "Angels" tail was last week champion "Star Trek". While pushed to the second place, this J.J. Abrams' sci-fi movie displayed yet another stellar performance in the theaters by earning merely $5 million less than "Angels". Facing a 42.8|percent| decrease in sales, the Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto-starring film garnered $43 million in its second week to the total of $147.6 million.

In the distant third place was "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". Bringing in $14.7 million more to the domestic total of nearly $151 million, the "X-Men" spin-off becomes the best earning movie so far this year. Romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past", moreover, slipped to the fourth place with an additional $6.7 million to the cume of $39.9 million. "Obsessed" rounded up the top five, grossing $4.6 million in its fourth weekend in theaters.

Top Ten Movies at Weekend Box Office for May 15 - 17:

1. "Angels & Demons" - $46 million
2. "Star Trek" - $43 million
3. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" - $14.7 million
4. "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" - $6.7 million
5. "Obsessed" - $4.6 million
6. "17 Again" - $3.4 million
7. "Monsters vs. Aliens" - $3.2 million
8. "The Soloist" - $2.4 million
9. "Next Day Air" - $2.2 million
10. "Earth" - $1.7 million