NEW YORK, Sept 16 — Horror film IT: Chapter Two stayed atop the North American box office this weekend, but the buzzy new Jennifer Lopez movie Hustlers notched a strong second place, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported yesterday.

The latest Stephen King-inspired IT film, starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Skarsgard, earned Warner Bros an estimated US$40.7 million (RM169.7 million) for the three-day period, down from its US$91 million opening last weekend.

Hustlers, based on a true story about strippers who plot to steal from their wealthy clients in recession-hit New York, took in US$33.2 million for STX Films, that studio’s best start ever. J-Lo has gotten rave reviews: Rolling Stone called her “dazzling”, “electrifying” and Oscar-worthy.

Hustlers also stars Constance Wu of Crazy Rich Asians fame, along with Julia Stiles, Cardi B and Lizzo.

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Lionsgate’s Angel Has Fallen, with Gerard Butler as a Secret Service agent accused of attempting to kill the US president, notched US$4.4 million to place a distant third.

In fourth was Good Boys, a raunchy tween comedy from Universal, at US$4.3 million.

And in fifth place was Disney’s updated The Lion King, at US$3.6 million. Its North American total has surpassed US$533 million, making it the 12th largest domestic release of all time, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

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Meantime, Warner Bros’ widely promoted drama The Goldfinch, adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, earned a mere US$2.6 million in what the Hollywood Reporter called “one of the worst starts ever” for a movie in wide release. 

Rounding out the weekend’s top 10 were:

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (US$2.8 million)

Overcomer (US$2.7 million)

The Goldfinch (US$2.6 million)

The Peanut Butter Falcon (US$1.9 million)

Dora & the Lost City of Gold (US$1.9 million) — AFP