'Straight Outta Compton' outguns box office rivals

"Straight Outta Compton" outgunned rivals for the top of the North American box office, defending the top spot for a second straight week after a bravura debut, industry estimates showed Sunday, AFP reports.

The biopic about pioneering rap group N.W.A raked in $26.8 million in box office receipts over the weekend after an $60.2 million haul its first week in movie theaters, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported.

The movie, named after the 1988 studio album that gave birth to the gangsta rap genre, appears to have struck a chord at a time when protests over racism and police shootings are back in the headlines.

It outpaced "Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation," the fifth installment of the Tom Cruise action thriller franchise, which was number two for a second week running, pulling in $11.7 million.

It has piled up $157.8 million in sales over the past four weeks, according to Exhibitor Relations.

Number three was "Sinister 2," making its debut with a $10.6 million box office take over the weekend.

The horror flick, about a child's nightly visitations from ghoulish kids, stars James Ransone and Shannyn Sossamon.

Also new this week was "Hitman: Agent 47," an action number about a genetically engineered killer, coming in fourth with $8.2 million in estimated weekend ticket sales.

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," a reboot of the '60s TV spy series, slid to fifth place from third, picking up $7.4 million its second week out.

Violent action comedy "American Ultra," about a stoner who doesn't know he's a trained killer for the CIA, took in $5.5 million its first week in theaters, enough to make sixth place. It stars Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg.

Seventh with $4.3 million in ticket sales was psychological thriller "The Gift," starring Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall.

Marvel action flick "Ant-Man" from Disney was eighth, bringing in about $4.1 million its sixth week out, for a cumulative total of $164.5 million.

Its seventh week in theaters animated comedy sequel "Minions" was ninth with a weekend take of $3.7 million for a cumulative total of nearly $320 million.

Rounding out the top ten was "Fantastic Four," another comic book action film reboot, which dropped from fourth place last week. It brought in $3.6 million its third week out.