'Terminator: Dark Fate' propels to top spot in opening weekend

Latest installment of Terminator franchise beat Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' in its first week

LOS ANGELES: Terminator: Dark Fate opened atop the North American box office this weekend with an estimated take of $29 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday, but analysts said that figure fell far below expectations.

After all, the sixth and latest installment in the franchise - reuniting stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton with series creator James Cameron - cost $185 million to make.

The Paramount film has Sarah Connor (Hamilton) fighting to protect a young girl from a deadly Terminator arrived from the future.

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The film may have been hurt by head-to-head competition with dark thriller Joker, which in its fifth week took in $13.9 million for the second spot in the Friday-to-Sunday period. Joaquin Phoenix plays Batman's notorious nemesis in the Warner Bros. film.

In third place was Disney's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil at $12.2 million. The film once again stars Angelina Jolie playing the evil sorceress, and adds Michelle Pfeiffer as the scheming Queen Ingrith.

New biopic Harriet - the story of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and work to help free other slaves - surprised analysts with its fourth-place finish, earning $12 million.

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It was a strong showing for a historical drama. The film has earned a rare A+ CinemaScore rating from audiences, and British star Cynthia Erivo has earned strong reviews for her performance in the title role.

In fifth was United Artists' computer-animated The Addams Family, at $8.5 million. The funny/spooky film features the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Snoop Dogg and Bette Midler.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

Zombieland: Double Tap ($7.4 million)

Countdown ($5.9 million)

Black and Blue ($4.1 million)

Motherless Brooklyn ($3.7 million)

Arctic Dogs ($3.1 million)

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