‘Oz’ conjures up more N. America box office magic

LOS ANGELES: Big-budget 3D fantasy adventure flick “Oz the Great and Powerful” for a second straight weekend was the top film at North American movie houses, earning $42.2 million, industry estimates showed.

Starring James Franco as a circus magician who ends up on the Yellow Brick Road, “The Wizard of Oz” prequel had a two-week total of $145 million, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Second place went to “The Call,” which debuted with $17.1 million in sales. The film thriller stars screen siren Halle Berry as a 911 operator trying to
rescue a young girl who has been abducted.

In third was a comedy, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” starring Steve Carell as a washed up magician who joins forces with street performer Jim Carrey, a street performer. It earned $10.3 million in its first weekend in theaters.

Fourth place went to was “Jack the Giant Slayer,” which stars Nicholas Hoult in the title role as a young farmhand battling giants to save a princess.
It brought in $6.2 million in its third week.

“Identity Thief,” a comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, was fifth, with $4.5 million in receipts. Action film “Snitch” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson came win sixth place with $3.5 million in takings.

Seventh place went to “21 & Over,” about three carousing colleges students celebrating a birthday milestone. It earned $2.6 million.
The Oscar-winning “Silver Linings Playbook” came in eight place with $2.6 million.

“Safe Haven,” a romantic drama adapted from a novel by Nicholas Sparks, earned $2.5 million for the ninth spot. To round out the top 10, animated kids movie “Escape from Planet Earth,”earned $2.3 million.