Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington’s action film 2 Guns has topped the US box office over the weekend, with estimated takings of $27.4m (£18m).
The film is based on a graphic novel of the same name and sees the actors team up to battle drug traffickers.
The Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman as the razor-clawed Marvel hero, took the second spot with $21.7m (£14.1m).
The Smurfs 2, featuring the animated blue characters, rounded up the top three with $18.2m (£11.9m).
The sequel failed to meet expectations in the US but performed well internationally, earning $52.5m (£34.2m) in 43 markets.
The Wolverine is Jackman’s sixth outing in the role and has now earned $95m (£62m) in the US – and added another $38.5m (£25.1m)to its international haul.
The former US number one film, haunted house tale The Conjuring, slipped to number fourth place in the chart but has now crossed the $100m mark since opening three weeks ago.
Smaller openings for indie fare proved to be a prudent decision with films such as Sundance Film Festival favourite The Spectacular Now, starring Shailene Woodley, which earned $190,000 (£124,000) in four theatres.
The low-budget Fruitvale Station made $2.7m (£1.7m) and Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine earned $2m (£1.3m) in 50 locations.
“Summer is not just about blockbusters,” said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
“It’s about specialized films that challenge the audience or are just different from the traditional, cookie-cutter, summer-style movie.”
Lindsay Lohan’s much talked about return to acting, opposite real-life porn actor James Deen, in the erotic thriller The Canyons made just $16,000 (£10,400) on two screens.
Its distributor IFC Films said it is performing strongly through video-on-demand services.
US BOX OFFICE CHART
1.2 Guns – $27.4 million.
2.The Wolverine – $21.7 million
3.The Smurfs 2 – $18.2 million
4.The Conjuring – $13.7 million
5.Despicable Me 2 – $10.4 million
Source: Hollywood.com
