Focus dethrones Fifty Shades at box office

Focus was number one at the US box office this weekend, beating out Fifty Shades of Grey.

Focus, a comedy crime drama starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, took in $19.1 million in its debut at US theatres. The picture dethroned erotic hit Fifty Shades, which held the top position ever since it was released on February 13. Focus centres on Will’s character Nicky, a con-man who gets thrown for a loop when femme fatale Jess, portrayed by Margot, enters the scene. The Overbrook Entertainment production, which is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, was made with an estimated budget of $50.1 million and Focus has earned $31.3 million worldwide so far.

Spy film Kingsman: The Secret Service came in second over the weekend, with earnings of $11.8 million. The picture, which stars Colin Firth, Taron Egerton and Samuel L. Jackson, has earned $85.7 million domestically and $209 million internationally so far. Made with an $81 million budget, Kingsman: The Secret Service centres on a smart street kid who gets recruited into a prestigious spy training programme just as a dangerous technological genius heats up a serious world threat.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water came in third, earning $11.2 million in ticket sales. The cartoon comedy, which is based on Stephen Hillenburg’s animated TV programme, has been a huge success since its February 6 North American release. So far it has taken in $230 million worldwide and over $140 million domestically.

Fifty Shades of Grey came in fourth place, with domestic gross profits of $10.9 million. However, it still is the top earner at the international box office this week, having added $36 million from 59 markets to its total worldwide sales, which have now reached an estimated $486 million.