Warner Bros’ horror story starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson pulled off a mighty feat to open in North America on an estimated $41.5m ahead of Despicable Me 2 and new release Turbo.

Universal’s Despicable Me 2 ranked second and has reached $276.2m after three weekends while DreamWorks Animations’ Turbo placed third on a so-so $25.1m rising to $31.2m after five days.

However R.I.P.D. starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds opened poorly in seventh place on $12.8m, introducing a rare stumble for the studio in what has been a magnificent year so far.

Summit’s action sequel Red 2 with the returning cast of Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker and Helen Mirren arrived in fifth place on a fair $18.5m.

Paramount’s World War Z continued its excellent adventure and ranks seventh on $186.9m after five sessions.

Disney’s The Lone Ranger is out of the top 10 in its third weekend and ranks 11th on $81.2m.

In limited release RADiUS-TWC debuted Nicolas Winding Refn’s Cannes entry Only God Forgives, an ultra-violent thriller that reunites the Dane with his Drive star Ryan Gosling. It took $315,000 from 78 venues. The distributor’s Twenty Feet From Stardom has overtaken SPC’s The Gatekeepers to become the higest grossing documentary of the year-to-date on $2.4m.

Roadside Attractions’ Girl Most Likely debuted on $736,000 from 353 theatres.

Drafthouse Films opened the Indonesian death squads documentary The Act Of Killing in a single venue for $28,100. The film is regarded as a likely contender come awards season.

There will be a new number one next weekend when Fox opens The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman in his sixth outing in the role. James Mangold directed the action release.

Estimated Top 10 North America Jul 19-21 2013
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date


1 (-) The Conjuring (Warner Bros) WBPI $41.5m –

2 (1) Despicable Me 2 (Universal) UPI $25.1m $276.2m

3 (1) Turbo (Fox-DreamWorks Animation) Fox Int’l $21.5m $31.2m

4 (2) Grown Ups 2 (Sony) SPRI $20m $79.5m

5 (-) Red 2 (Lionsgate-Summit) Lionsgate Int’l $18.5m –

6 (3) Pacific Rim (Warner Bros) WBPI $15.9m $68.2m –

7 (-) R.I.P.D. (Universal) UPI $12.8m –

8 (4) The Heat (Fox) Fox Int’l $9.3m $129.3m

9 (7) World War Z (Paramount) PPI $5.2m $186.9m

10 (6) Monsters University (Buena Vista/Pixar) WDSMPI $5m $248.9m