‘Justice League’ takes top spot, but still falls short at box office

WASHINGTON, United States - It might have scored top of the box office, but "Justice League" didn't have the super opening weekend predicted, falling short of expectations with takings of $96 million, according to industry estimates released Sunday.

With an all-star cast including Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, "Justice League" -- based on the DC Comics superheroes team -- sees a mash-up of classic characters fend off the threat of supervillain Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds).

The big-budget Warner Bros production -- which fared better internationally, taking $185 million  -- was forecast to earn $110 million in North American cinemas, according to Variety.

Meanwhile, in at second -- earning $27.1 million -- was Lionsgate's newly-released "Wonder," according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, "Wonder" follows the journey of August Pullman, a young boy with facial differences, as he enters the fifth grade at a mainstream school for the first time.

After thundering to the top spot last week, "Thor: Ragnarok" slipped into third place in its third weekend in cinemas, taking $21.8 million.

Featuring the self-mocking humor of Chris Hemsworth as the powerful Norse god alongside Cate Blanchett as Hela, goddess of death, "Thor" has raked in an impressive $247.4 million since its release in North American cinemas.

Meanwhile, Paramount's "Daddy's Home 2" halved its earnings from last weekend, dropping to fourth place with $14.8 million.

The festive comedy stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as Brad and Dusty, who join forces to give their kids the perfect holiday -- an effort challenged when their own fathers show up.

In at fifth was Fox's "Murder on the Orient Express,"  earning $13.8 million.

The fourth television or cinema adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic detective novel, the murder mystery was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as part of an A-list cast including Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Judi Dench.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

• "The Star" ($10 million)
• "A Bad Moms Christmas" ($6.9 million)
• "Lady Bird" ($2.5 million)
• "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" ($1.1 million)
• "Jigsaw" ($1.1 million)

— Agence France-Presse