娱乐英语新闻:"Angeles & Demons" tops weekend box office in North America

LOS ANGELES, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Without a similar controversy that helped "The Da Vinci Code" became an international blockbuster, Sony's "Angeles & Demons" opened this weekend at top of the box office in North America, taking in an estimated 48 million U.S. dollars, preliminary figures showed Sunday.

Actor Tom Hanks (L) and Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer wave to fans during the Japan premiere of the movie "Angels & Demons" in Tokyo May 7, 2009. The Japanese words read: "Angels & Demons".

The latest adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novel focuses on a terrorist attack against the Catholic church in Vatican.

    Although the sequel's opening was far less than "The Da Vinci Code," which opened to 77.1 million dollars in the United States and Canada three years ago, the new Tom Hanks thriller still managed to narrowly nose out sci-fi movie "Star Trek," which took in some 43 million dollars over its second week.

    With the best review for a movie so far this year and strong world-of mouth, "Star Trek" have grossed about 147.6 million dollars in North America over two weeks in release, according to movie industry review website Hollywood.com.

Actor Tom Hanks delivers a speech during the Japan premiere of the movie "Angels & Demons" in Tokyo May 7, 2009. The Japanese words read: "Angels".

Fox sci-fi action "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" also showed legs at the box office, with 14.8 million dollars over the weekend and a total of 151.2 million dollars during its three-week release.

    Rounding out the top five movies this weekend are Warner Bros. comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" and Sony thriller "Obsessed," with 6.9 million and 4.6 million dollars over the three-day period.

    Meanwhile, "Angels & Demons" debuted to a massive 104.3 million dollars from 96 countries at the international box office, scoring the biggest overseas opening since "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which grossed 146 million dollars over Memorial Day weekend in 2008.

Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer delivers a speech during the Japan premiere of the movie "Angels & Demons" in Tokyo May 7, 2009.