The independent action comedy starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg led a decent session in North America, scoring an estimated $27.4m through Universal.

Emmett Furla Films and Foresight Unlimited financed Baltasar Kormakur’s reunion with Wahlberg – Contraband opened at number one in January 2012 – and Foresight handled all international sales including a batch of territories to Sony. The film caused a sensation when it launched in project form at the EFM in Berlin back in 2012.

Last weekend’s leader The Wolverine slid to second place through Fox on $21.7m for $95m, while Sony’s The Smurfs 2 opened poorly in third place on $18.2m over three days rising to $27.8m from Wednesday. Overall box office fell 20% against the previous weekend and climbed 10% against the comparable session in 2012.

Warner Bros’ horror The Conjuring crossed $100m in its third weekend and ranks fourth on $108.6m. Stablemate Pacific Rim in tenth place is nearing $100m and stands at $92.6m after four weekends.

Several titles are exploding in the limited release arena. Fox Searchlight’s Sundance acquisition The Way, Way Back ranks 11th and grossed $2.9m from 1,001 theatres after expanding by 115 and stands at $13.7m after five weekends.

TWC’s Fruitvale Station in 12th place added $2.7m for $10.9m in the fourth weekend.

SPC kept the ball rolling with Blue Jasmine following last weekend’s spectacular launch and boosted the theatre count by 44 to 50 further $2m for a superb $40,440 site average. The film climbed five places to number 14 and the running total stands at a little over $3m.

A24 launched Sundance hit The Spectacular Now on $200,000 from four sites for a mighty $50,000 average. IFC’s Venice entry The Canyons starring Lindsay Lohan and porn star James Deen opened in a single New York theatre through IFC in theatres on $15,200. Paul Schrader directed from a screenplay by Bret Easton Ellis.

Next weekend’s wide releases are Buena Vista’s animation Planes; Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 follow-up Elysium through TriStar starring Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley and Jodie Foster; Fox’s Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters; and Warner Bros’ comedy We’re The Millers with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis.

Estimated Top 10 North America Aug 2-4
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date
1 (-) 2 Guns (Universal) Foresight Unlimited $27.4m –

2 (1) The Wolverine (Fox) Fox Int’l $21.7m $95m

3 (-) The Smurfs 2 (Sony) SPRI $18.2m $27.8m

4 (2) The Conjuring (Warner Bros) WBPI $13.7m $108.6m

5 (3) Despicable Me 2 (Universal) UPI $10.4m $326.7m

6 (5) Grown Ups 2 (Sony) SPRI $8.1m $116.4m

7 (4) Turbo (Fox-DreamWorks Animation) Fox Int’l $6.4m $69.5m

8 (6) Red 2 (Lionsgate-Summit) Lionsgate Int’l $5.7m $45.2m

9 (8) The Heat (Fox) Fox Int’l $4.7m $149.6m

10 (7) Pacific Rim (Warner Bros) WBPI $4.6m $92.9m

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