'Focus' dethrones 'Fifty Shades' for box office gold

Actors Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Rodrigo Santoro arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Focus" at the Chinese Theatre on February 24, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Con-artist flick "Focus" stole the top spot at North American box offices this weekend, vaulting over hit bondage film "Fifty Shades of Grey. PHOTO | AFP 

In Summary

• Erotic bondage tale "Fifty Shades of Grey" slipped out of its long-running spot on top of the box office ending a run that saw a record February opening.
• Controversial war-drama "American Sniper" was projected had $7.7 million in box office sales for the seventh spot. The film's portrayal of late Navy Seal Chris Kyle stirred up debate over its depictions of Arabs and Muslims.

By AFP
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LOS ANGELES,

Sexy con-artist flick "Focus" stole the top spot at North American box offices this weekend, vaulting over hit bondage film "Fifty Shades of Grey," industry estimates showed Sunday.

The fast-paced and glittering dark comedy full of deceptions stars Will Smith as crook Nicky who takes on protégé Jess, played by Margot Robbie.

"Focus" got $19.1 million in sales, handily winning first place, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Holding steady at the second spot was British spy film "Kingsman: The Secret Service," starring Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Firth.

The comedy took in $11.8 million, just enough to hold off animated film "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," that held onto third place with an $11.2 million haul projected.

REIGN HALTED

Erotic bondage tale "Fifty Shades of Grey" slipped out of its long-running spot on top of the box office ending a run that saw a record February opening.

The film starring Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele brought in $10.9 million in its third week for the fourth spot.

Horror film "The Lazarus Effect," about medical students who discover a way to bring people back to life, earned $10.6 million in its debut weekend to come in fifth.

Kevin Costner sport drama "McFarland, USA," about a student cross-country team from immigrant families took in $7.8 million in its second week for the sixth spot.

Controversial war-drama "American Sniper" was projected had $7.7 million in box office sales for the seventh spot.

The Iraq war film directed by Clint Eastwood set box office records and has pulled in $331.1 million so far.

The film's portrayal of late Navy Seal Chris Kyle stirred up debate over its depictions of Arabs and Muslims.

"The Duff," a teen comedy about high school cliques featuring Mae Whitman, slipped three spots to land in eighth with $7.2 million.

Critically-acclaimed drama "Still Alice," starring Julianne Moore as a linguistics professor diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, took in $2.7 million to land in ninth.

"Hot Tub Time Machine 2," about a magical hot tub that sends its users into the future, sold the tenth most tickets, bringing in $2.4 million.