‘Dune’ spices up box office with big opening

Bringing spice to a so-far lean movie year, Warner Bros.' new sci-fi film "Dune: Part Two" shot to the top of the North American box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $81.5 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on March 3.

Denis Villeneuve's epic sequel to the original "Dune," based on Frank Herbert's 1965 novel about war and survival on the deeply inhospitable desert planet of Arrakis, saw the young year's largest opening, roughly doubling the original film's opening. "Dune: Part Two" has taken in an additional $97 million abroad.

Its strong opening left the box office leader of the past two weekends, Paramount's "Bob Marley: One Love," in the dust -- or sand -- as the biopic took in just $7.4 million for second place. British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as the iconic reggae singer.

In third were the latest episodes of Fathom Events and Angel Studios' faith-based "The Chosen," on the life of Jesus Christ, at $3.9 million. Egyptian-born Jonathan Roumie plays Jesus in the crowdfunded series.

Fourth spot went to Lionsgate's true-life drama "Ordinary Angels," at $3.8 million. Hilary Swank stars as a Kentucky hairdresser who rallies her town to help a widower with a gravely ill daughter.

Sony's "Madame Web," a "Spider-Man" spinoff starring Dakota Johnson, placed fifth for the weekend at $3.2 million.