The film, which light-heartedly explores the boundary between the virtual and the real, features an anti-hero played by Ryan Reynolds, a man who realises he is a character in a video game and seeks to take control of his destiny.
“This is a very good opening under difficult conditions. The Delta variant is taking a toll,” David A Gross, who runs consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told AFP, referring to a surge in coronavirus cases.
The horror feature “Don’t Breathe 2,” about a game of mass murder perpetuated by a blind veteran, came in second place with US$10.6 million in its first weekend.
In third place was Disney’s family adventure film “Jungle Cruise,” based on a theme park ride, with US$9 million for the Friday-Sunday period.
Right behind it, the biopic about soul queen Aretha Franklin, “Respect” came in fourth with US$8.8 million, and rounding out the top five was the supervillain movie “The Suicide Squad,” which amassed US$7.8 million.
Here are the rest of the top 10 :
- “Old” (US$2.4 million)
- “Black Widow” (US$2 million)
- “Stillwater” (US$1.3 million)
- The Green Knight” (US$1.2 million)
- “Space Jam: A New Legacy” (US$1.2 million)