'Oz' conjures up more N. America box office magic

Big-budget 3D fantasy adventure flick "Oz the Great and Powerful" for a second straight weekend was the top film at North American movie houses, earning $42.2 million (RM 131.52 million), industry estimates showed.

Starring James Franco as a circus magician who ends up on the Yellow Brick Road, "The Wizard of Oz" prequel had a two-week total of $145 million (RM 451.89 million), according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Second place went to "The Call," which debuted with $17.1 million (RM 53.29 million) in sales. The film thriller stars screen siren Halle Berry as a 911 operator trying to rescue a young girl who has been abducted.

In third was a comedy, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," starring Steve Carell as a washed up magician who joins forces with street performer Jim Carrey, a street performer. It earned $10.3 million (RM 32.10) in its first weekend in theaters.

Fourth place went to was "Jack the Giant Slayer," which stars Nicholas Hoult in the title role as a young farmhand battling giants to save a princess. It brought in $6.2 million (RM19.32 million) in its third week.

"Identity Thief," a comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, was fifth, with $4.5 million (RM 14.02 million) in receipts.

Action film "Snitch" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson came win sixth place with $3.5 million (RM 10.91 million) in takings.

Seventh place went to "21 & Over," about three carousing colleges students celebrating a birthday milestone. It earned $2.6 million (RM 8.10 million).

The Oscar-winning "Silver Linings Playbook" came in eight place with $2.6 million (RM 8.10 million).

"Safe Haven," a romantic drama adapted from a novel by Nicholas Sparks, earned $2.5 million (RM7.79 million) for the ninth spot.

To round out the top 10, animated kids movie "Escape from Planet Earth," earned $2.3 million (RM7.17 million).