'Aquaman' stays afloat atop N American box office

‘Aquaman’ displayed a powerful kick in North American theatres over the weekend, taking in an estimated $51.6 million to help close a record year for the movie sector, data showed Sunday.

The domestic film industry is projected to gross a record $11.9 billion this year, up 2.7 per cent from last year, according to industry monitor Comscore.

"Aquaman" slipped just 24 per cent from its opening weekend, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations reported, while some superhero films lose 50 or even 60 percent in week two.

With hunky and heavily tattooed Jason Momoa in the lead role, the Warner Bros. film has grossed nearly $750 million globally.

Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns," actually gained altitude in its second weekend, taking in $28 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, up 18 per cent.

The follow-up to the 1964 movie stars Emily Blunt as the stern but kind-hearted nanny, backed by the amiable Lin-Manuel Miranda of "Hamilton" fame.

In third was Paramount's "Bumblebee," a prequel to the "Transformers" movies, starring Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, at $20.5 million. The Washington Post credits the film with rising above earlier editions in the franchise to show "humor, emotion and a surprising amount of heart."

Fourth place went to Sony's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," at $18.3 million. The film has drawn rave reviews -- with a 97 score on the Rotten Tomatoes website -- and has netted a Golden Globe nomination as best animated picture.

In fifth was "The Mule" from Warner Bros., at $11.8 million, a 27 per cent jump from last weekend. Clint Eastwood directs and takes the lead role -- his last acting part, he has said -- as a destitute 90-year-old who turns to transporting cocaine for a drug cartel.