'Oz' conjures up N. America box office magic

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Big-budget 3D fantasy adventure flick "Oz the Great and Powerful" debuted atop the North American box office with a huge $80.3 million in weekend ticket sales, AFP reports citing industry estimates. Starring James Franco as a circus magician who ends up on the Yellow Brick Road, "The Wizard of Oz" prequel easily topped last week's leader, "Jack the Giant Slayer," according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "Jack," which stars Nicholas Hoult in the title role as a young farmhand battling giants to save a princess, brought in $10 million in its second week, more than enough to keep it in second place but a sharp drop from its debut. "Identity Thief," a comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, dropped a peg to third, with $6.3 million in receipts in its fifth week in theaters for total earnings of $116.5 million. "Dead Man Down," a crime drama starring Colin Ferrell and Noomi Rapace, debuted in fourth place, picking up $5.35 million. Action film "Snitch" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson slipped to fifth with $5.1 million in weekend sales. Not far behind at $5.06 million was comedy "21 & Over," which fell from third to sixth place in its second week out. "Safe Haven" and "Silver Linings Playbook" held on in seventh and eighth place, respectively. A romantic drama adapted from a novel by Nicholas Sparks, "Safe Haven" made $3.8 million, while "Silver Linings," with Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, garnered $3.7 million. Animated kids movie "Escape from Planet Earth," earned $3.2 million, putting it in ninth place after four weeks in theaters. Horror sequel "The Last Exorcism Part II," dropped to 10th place in its second week with a box office take of $3.1 million.

Big-budget 3D fantasy adventure flick "Oz the Great and Powerful" debuted atop the North American box office with a huge $80.3 million in weekend ticket sales, AFP reports citing industry estimates. Starring James Franco as a circus magician who ends up on the Yellow Brick Road, "The Wizard of Oz" prequel easily topped last week's leader, "Jack the Giant Slayer," according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "Jack," which stars Nicholas Hoult in the title role as a young farmhand battling giants to save a princess, brought in $10 million in its second week, more than enough to keep it in second place but a sharp drop from its debut. "Identity Thief," a comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, dropped a peg to third, with $6.3 million in receipts in its fifth week in theaters for total earnings of $116.5 million. "Dead Man Down," a crime drama starring Colin Ferrell and Noomi Rapace, debuted in fourth place, picking up $5.35 million. Action film "Snitch" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson slipped to fifth with $5.1 million in weekend sales. Not far behind at $5.06 million was comedy "21 & Over," which fell from third to sixth place in its second week out. "Safe Haven" and "Silver Linings Playbook" held on in seventh and eighth place, respectively. A romantic drama adapted from a novel by Nicholas Sparks, "Safe Haven" made $3.8 million, while "Silver Linings," with Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, garnered $3.7 million. Animated kids movie "Escape from Planet Earth," earned $3.2 million, putting it in ninth place after four weeks in theaters. Horror sequel "The Last Exorcism Part II," dropped to 10th place in its second week with a box office take of $3.1 million.

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