LOS ANGELES _ Performing above expectations, Lionsgate and Millennium's "Angel Has Fallen" opened in first place with $21.3 million, according to estimates from measurement firm Comscore.
The third film in the action franchise, it stars Gerard Butler as a Secret Service agent who is falsely accused of attempting to assassinate the U.S. president, played by Morgan Freeman. It was directed by Rick Roman Waugh and also stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Piper Perabo and Nick Nolte.
Analysts anticipated it would earn $13 million to $15 million, less than previous series installments "London Has Fallen" ($21.6 million opening in 2016) and "Olympus Has Fallen" ($30.4 million debut in 2013). The movie received a mixed reception, with an A-minus CinemaScore but a 40% "rotten" rating on review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.
At No. 2, Universal's "Good Boys" added $11.8 million in its second weekend.
At No. 3, Sony and Affirm's "Overcomer" opened with $8.2 million. Written and directed by and starring Alex Kendrick, the movie is about a coach whose faith is tested as he mentors a troubled teen. Audiences approved with an A-plus CinemaScore, but critics responded with a 33% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
At No. 4, Disney's "The Lion King" added $8.2 million. Rounding out the top five, Universal's "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" added $8.1 million.
Fox Searchlight's "Ready or Not" opened at No. 6, taking in $7.6 million over the weekend and $10.6 million since its debut Wednesday.
At No. 7, Sony's "The Angry Birds Movie 2" added $6.4 million in its second weekend. In eighth place, Lionsgate's "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" added $6 million in its third weekend. At No. 9, Paramount's "Dora and the Lost City of Gold" added $5.2 million. Rounding out the top 10, Sony's "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" added $5 million in its fifth weekend.
