‘The Conjuring 2′ Is No. 1 at the Box Office This Weekend

‘The Conjuring 2′ Is No. 1 at the Box Office This Weekend

The horror sequel, about a pair of paranormal-activity investigators, grossed $40 million

From left: Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in 'The Conjuring 2' PHOTO: NEW LINE CINEMA/COURTESY EVERETT /EVERETT COLLECTION

“The Conjuring 2,” the horror sequel about a pair of paranormal-activity investigators, grossed an impressive $40 million in first place — on par with the 2013 debut of the original film. The original “Conjuring” ended up grossing $137 million, and its sequel appears likely to break the string of disappointing sequels from Hollywood this summer that has included “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”

“Warcraft,” based on the hugely popular video game series, disappointed in second place with $24.4 million — a paltry showing for a movie that cost about $160 million to make. But the movie has been setting records in China, where it grossed more than $90 million in its first two days of release.

“Now You See Me 2,” starring Jesse Eisenberg and Lizzy Caplan as members of a group of conniving magicians, followed in third place with $23 million. That’s down about $6 million from the original film’s debut.

The first “Now You See Me” kept pulling in audiences in the weeks after its release and eventually hit a domestic gross of $117.7 million; whether the sequel can do the same will be determined in the weeks to come.

Though none of the new releases is a hit with critics, moviegoers seemed to like them. Opening-weekend audiences gave “The Conjuring 2″ and “Now You See Me 2″ each an “A-” grade, according to the CinemaScore market-research firm. “Warcraft” received a “B+.”

source: http://blogs.wsj.com