'Blade Runner 2049' tops box office with disappointing takings

Long-awaited sequel "Blade Runner: 2049" snatched the box office top spot this weekend -- three and a half decades since "Blade Runner" hit the big screen in 1982, industry figures showed Monday.

But with takings of $32.8 million in North American theaters, the sci-fi reboot -- featuring original star Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling -- didn't enjoy the sensational opening its rave reviews suggested it might.

"Blade Runner: 2049" sees Gosling as a new Los Angeles Police Department "blade runner" -- charged with killing bioengineered androids known as "replicants." On uncovering a secret which threatens society, he embarks on a search for Harrison Ford's character, a former blade runner who disappeared 30 years ago.

Despite a disappointing first weekend, "Blade Runner" did not face much competition for the top spot -- with Fox's "The Mountain Between Us," in second place, earning just $10.6 million, according to industry monitor Exhibitor Relations.

Starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, "The Mountain Between Us" tells the story of a surgeon (Elba) and a journalist (Winslet), who fall in love as they fight to survive following a plane crash on a snowy Utah mountain range.

Meanwhile, with takings dropping from last week's $16.9 million to $10 million, freaky horror hit "It" -- based on the Stephen King novel -- settled for third place in its fifth week in theaters.

In fourth, earning $8.9 million, was Lionsgate animation "My Little Pony: The Movie" -- featuring star-studded voiceovers from the likes of Emily Blunt and Australian singer Sia.

But it was a fall from grace for espionage comedy "Kingsman: The Golden Circle," which -- having taken the crown last week -- dropped to fifth place with earnings of $8.7 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"American Made" ($8.4 million)

"The Lego Ninjago Movie" ($7 million)

"Victoria and Abdul" ($4.2 million)

"Flatliners" ($4 million)

"Battle of the Sexes" ($2.6 million)

Source: AFP