#BOXOFFICE: “NOAH” PADDLES PAST COMPETITION TO TOP OF BOX OFFICE

After a long wait for it, Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah finally sees a release and paddles right past the competition at the Box Office for Paramount Pictures this weekend with $44 million from 3,567 theatres across North America.  Starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins and Logan Lerman, the Biblical Drama looks well on its way quickly to recouping its $160 million budget, earning also $51.1 million overseas. Critics gave it a 75% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences on the contrary surprisingly gave it a C CinemaScore.

After a huge debut last weekend, Divergent still is going strong in second with $26.5 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. In its two week run domestically, the Action-Fantasy starring Theo James and Shailene Woodley has made in excess of $95 million.

Muppets Most Wanted in its second week out earns $11.9 million for Disney, just surpassing the $30-million mark and good enough for third spot, while former Champ Mr. Peabody and Sherman still continues to perform well in fourth for 20th Century Fox, earning $9.6 million in its fourth week out.  To date it has grossed $96 million in these parts. Wes Anderson‘s star-studded The Grand Budapest Hotel in fifth with $8.8 million from only 977 theatres in its fourth week out.

Sabotage debuts in seventh with $5.2 million for Open Road Films. The Action Film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to open in Canada.  Critics gave it a B CinemaScore, although Critics didn’t think much of it with a 22% CinemaScore.

300: Rise of an Empire finds itself in ninth spot with $4.3 million, just surpassing the $100-million mark domestically in its fourth week out.

Non-Stop rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.2 million for Universal Pictures in its fifth week out, nearing-in on the $90-million mark.