"Despicable Me 3" tops North American box office in opening weekend

（file photo）

"Despicable Me 3," the animated sequel from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, nabbed the top spot at the North American box office with an estimated 75.4 million U.S. dollars in its opening weekend.

The 3D computer-animated comedy film is the third installment in the "Despicable Me" franchise, and the sequel to "Despicable Me 2" (2013). Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, the film stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker. Illumination Entertainment has enjoyed an amazing track record of both critical acclaim and box office success with the "Despicable" and "Minions" films approaching the 3 billion U.S. dollars mark worldwide. "Despicable Me 3" grossed an estimated 95.6 million U.S. dollars in 52 territories for an early total of 116.9 million U.S. dollars. Combined with the U.S. and Canada No. 1 opening of 75.4 million U.S. dollars, the worldwide total is 192.3 million U.S. dollars, according to studio figures collected by comScore.

Sony Corp.'s latest release "Baby Driver" opened in second place with an estimated 21 million U.S. dollars weekend in North America. Edgar Wright's new film brought in a five-day total of 30 million U.S. dollars since its debut last Wednesday. Sony costed a reported 34 million U.S. dollars to produce the R-rated film which stars Jamie Foxx, Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm and Kevin Spacey.

Paramount's "Transformers: The Last Knight" moved to the third place with an estimated 17 million U.S. dollars. The fifth installment in the series grossed 68 million U.S. dollars this weekend from 44 markets including 3 new openings.

Warner Bros.' "Wonder Woman" landed in the fourth place with an estimated 15.5 million U.S. dollars in its fifth weekend, bringing its North American total to over 346.1 million U.S. dollars through Sunday. Disney/Pixar's "Cars 3" finished fifth with an estimated 9.5 million U.S. dollars in its third weekend.