LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Universal and DreamWorks' "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" took the top spot of North American box office in its debut weekend with an estimated 55.52 million U.S. dollars, the biggest opening of the year to date.
Loosely based on the book series of the same name by Cressida Cowell, the animated fantasy film is the final installment in the "How to Train Your Dragon" film trilogy. Directed by Canadian director Dean DeBlois, the film features an all-star voice cast including Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett and America Ferrera and the plot follows Hiccup seeking a dragon utopia called "The Hidden World."
The performance of "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" debut weekend is the best in the franchise, surpassing its predecessors. The first film of the franchise opened with 43.73 million dollars in 2010, while the second installment debuted with 49.45 million in 2014. The film has been in international release ahead of this weekend's North American debut and has brought in 274.9 million dollars worldwide, according to studio figures collected by measurement firm Comscore.
The film enjoyed a 91 percent certified fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fox's cyberpunk action film "Alita: Battle Angel" was knocked from top spot to second place with an estimated 12 million dollars in its second weekend, pushing its North American total to 60.68 million dollars through Sunday.
Based on Japanese manga series "Gunnm," the sci-fi epic is directed by Robert Rodriquez and produced by James Cameron. American actress Rosa Salazar stars as Alita, a cyborg, who wakes up in a doctor's clinic with no memory of who she is. She must soon use her extraordinary fighting abilities to combat deadly forces while trying to uncover the truth behind her mysterious past.
Warner Bros.' animated adventure comedy film "Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" came in third in its third weekend with an estimated 10.01 million dollars for a North American total of 83.61 million dollars.
Directed by Mike Mitchell, the film is a direct sequel to 2014's "The Lego Movie." "Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. The battle to defeat invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds.
MGM's expansion of the comedic drama "Fighting with My Family" landed in fourth with an estimated 8.01 million dollars in its second weekend. Warner Bros.' romantic comedy "Isn't It Romantic" finished fifth with an estimated 7.51 million dollars in its second weekend.
