'Thor' still a box office smash in second weekend

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According to industry estimates released Sunday, "Thor: Ragnarok" thundered to the box office top spot once again this week, taking 56.6 million US dollars.

The third "Thor" movie, boosted by the self-mocking humor of Chris Hemsworth as the powerful Norse god, alongside Cate Blanchett as Hela, goddess of death, has taken a total of 211.5 million US dollars since opening in North American cinemas – with global earnings reaching the 650 million dollars mark.

The movie has performed well in China as well, holding the first place of the Chinese box office for the second weekend with 21.3 million dollars from Friday to Sunday. Nine days after being released, it has already grabbed 80.7 million dollars in the Chinese mainland.

Screenshot from official trailer of "Thor: Ragnarok" /Handout Photo

In at number two this weekend was Paramount's newly released "Daddy's Home 2," which took 30 million dollars, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

A reminder that it's that time of year already, the Christmas comedy stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as Brad and Dusty – who join forces to give their kids the perfect holiday, but have their efforts challenged when their own fathers show up.

Bagging third place was "Murder on the Orient Express," the fourth television or cinema adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic detective novel, with earnings of 28.2 million dollars.

A poster of "Murder on the Orient Express" /Handout Photo‍

The new Fox release was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars in the movie as part of an A-list cast featuring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Judi Dench.

Slipping into fourth place was "A Bad Moms Christmas," from STX Entertainment, at 11.5 million dollars. The comedy stars three women – Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn – whose plans change when their mothers, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon, drop in unexpectedly for the holidays.

Meanwhile, Lionsgate's "Jigsaw," which sees police investigate a string of horrific murders carried out in the style of supposedly long-dead killer Jigsaw, dropped this weekend from third to fifth place, taking 3.4 million dollars.

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Source(s): AFP