When the actual figures are announced, the final listing might look different, but on studio estimates alone Melissa McCarthy's new comedy The Boss has slapped down Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and walked of with the US box office crown and $23.48 million
The Boss, which McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone co-wrote with Steve Mallory and directed based on a Groundlings character they created) didn't exactly arrive to glowing reviews, but it squeezed past Tammy to become her best solo launch yet. We'll have to wait and see how it holds up – The Jungle Book will all but definitely dethrone it next week, and most of its international release is spread out over the coming months.
Warner Bros. and DC's superheroes, meanwhile, fell to second place (but could leap back in a single bound if those final figures do indeed change) with $23.43 million, and dropping 54% in its third weekend. And adjusted for inflation, it has still come in behind Man Of Steel. Still, the studio is pushing ahead with Justice League, which is about to start shooting its first entry.
Zootopia (AKA Zootropolis) slipped one place to third, but still managed to haul in $14.3 million despite racking up six weeks in the charts. The Disney 'toon is another big win for the company, earning almost as much as Batman and co. in the States and more than $852.5 million worldwide to date. It remained ahead of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in fourth, which added $6.4 million to its gift pile this weekend.
POV action thriller Hardcore Henry launched in fifth place, a disappointment despite opening in 3,015 screens, and earned $5.1 million. It'll have to hope for an international boost to make it into real profit.
In sixth we find Miracles From Heaven holding strong with $4.8 million, while God's Not Dead 2 slipped a few places to seventh on $4 million. The Divergent Series: Allegiant continues to underperform, falling to eighth and $3.6 million. 10 Cloverfield Lane was down to ninth and $3 million while Eye In The Sky added a few screens, falling just one place to 10th after adding $2.8 million for a $10.4 million total in the States.