With $46 million, "Ghostbusters" lands at No. 2 at the box office
Paul Feig's all-female "Ghostbusters" reboot got off to a respectable start at the box office, bringing in an estimated $46 million during its opening weekend -- but it couldn't clinch the top spot.
The supernatural action-comedy -- starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones -- opened at No. 2 behind "The Secret Life of Pets," which earned $50.6 million during its second week of release.
The weekend also marked the fifth straight weekend in a row with an animated film in the top spot.
Speaking of animated films, Pixar's "Finding Dory" became the domestic top-grossing animated film of all time by ratcheting up its U.S. take to $445.5 million this weekend, nudging out "Shrek 2" for the title. The sequel's total global box office now sits at $721.8 million.
As for "Ghostbusters," the $46 million opening weekend represents the best showing so far for Feig and McCarthy and the best opening so far this year for a live-action comedy. It earned an additional $19.1 million overseas, opening in first place in the U.K. and Australia.
"We're ecstatic with this opening. We have successfully restarted an important brand," Sony worldwide marketing and distribution president Josh Greenstein said in a statement. "We have lots of room to run in the coming weeks as the big comedy in the marketplace."