LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- With the lack of competition, Disney's blockbuster "Ralph Breaks the Internet" continued to lead North American box office with an estimated 16.14 million U.S. dollars for a third weekend in a row.
There was new wide release this weekend in North America as Hollywood major studios are aiming at the Christmas crush. But a series of new notable openers will join the Christmas season race in coming weekends, such as "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," "Aquaman," and "Bumblebee."
"As the Industry hits the home stretch of an amazing box office year, this weekend is a tale of the holdovers," wrote movie analyst Paul Dergarabedian at comScore in an email to Xinhua. There was no change at the top five of the box office this weekend.
"Ralph Breaks the Internet" has earned a massive 140.9 million dollars through Sunday in North America since it opened over Thanksgiving for a global total of 258.2 million dollars, according to the studio figures collected by comScore.
The animated comedy film is the sequel to the 2012's "Wreck-It Ralph." Directed by Rich Moore and Phil Johnston, the film features the voice of John C. Reilly as Ralph. The plot follows video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz who navigate the vast and dynamic world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope's game, Sugar Rush.
Universal and Illumination Entertainment's holiday tale "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch" came in second again in its fifth weekend with an estimated 15.17 million dollars, pushing its North American total to 223.46 million dollars.
Based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book with the title "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the animated remake is the third screen adaptation of the story. Directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier, the film features the voice of English actor Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch. The plot follows the Grinch as he plans to ruin Christmas holiday in Whoville by stealing all the town's decorations and gifts.
In third place, MGM's sports drama film "Creed II" took in an estimated 10.32 million dollars in its third weekend for a North American total of 96.47 million dollars. The film is the follow up to the 2015's "Creed."
Directed by Steven Caple Jr., "Creed II" stars Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson among others. The plot follows a U.S. light heavyweight contender Adonis Creed who faces off against a powerful adversary, Viktor Drago, son of Russian boxer Ivan Drago. Ivan killed Adonis' father Apollo Creed in a tragic match many years before.
Warner Bros.' fantasy film "Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald" came in fourth with an estimated 6.8 million dollars in its fourth weekend for a North American total of 145.2 million dollars.
Penned by J.K. Rowling and directed by David Yates, the films of the "Harry Potter" universe is the sequel to 2016's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." The plot follows Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore as they attempt to take down the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, while facing new threats in a more divided wizarding world.
Twentieth Century Fox's biographical film "Bohemian Rhapsody" finished fifth with an estimated 6 million dollars in its sixth weekend for a North American total of 173.56 million dollars.
Directed by Bryan Singer and starring Rami Malek, the film is a foot-stomping celebration of the British rock band Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, tracing the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound.
