The animated sea-faring musical adventure “Moana” triumphed for its third straight weekend, topping the North American box office with $18.9 million, industry data showed.
The Disney film about a brave Polynesian teenage girl on a risky mission to save her people has raked in $145 million since its opening on Thanksgiving Day, Exhibitor Relations said.
The composers of the film´s score include Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics for the smash Broadway hit “Hamilton.”
“Office Christmas Party,” a comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, took second in its debut week with $17.5 million.
She plays an up-tight corporate CEO who wants to close down a branch run by her brother, who answers by staging a mega party aimed at landing a new client and keeping the branch alive.
Harry Potter spin-off “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” dropped to third spot during its fourth week in theaters, chalking up $10.8 million for a total of $199.3 million so far.
Based on a 2001 book by “Potter” novelist J.K. Rowling, the Warner Bros. film stars Eddie Redmayne as a wizard in 1920s New York.
Fourth place went to alien invasion movie “Arrival,” starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner as it posted $5.6 million. The movie has received 10 nominations from the Critics Choice Awards, including for best picture, director and actress.
Adams plays a linguist whom the military recruits to communicate with aliens after mysterious spacecraft appear over Earth, which stands on the brink of war.
Remaining in fifth place was Marvel´s “Doctor Strange,” which earned $4.6 million for a total of $222.4 million.
The movie, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch as neurosurgeon Stephen Strange — whose life changes forever after a horrific car accident — is the 14th film in Disney´s “Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Rounding out the top 10 films were:
“Allied” ($4.0 million)
“Nocturnal Animals” ($3.19 million)
“Manchester by the Sea” ($3.15 million)
“Trolls” ($3.11 million)
“Hacksaw Ridge” ($2.3 million) – (AFP)
