Ant-Man Takes Top Spot At U.S. Box Office

by Helen Earnshaw | 20 July 2015

Ant-Man has toppled Minions from the top of the U.S. box office as it becomes the second Marvel film to hit the #1 spot this year.

Ant-Man

Ant-Man, which is the first in a series of new franchises to hit the big screen over the next few years, sees Paul Rudd take on the title role as the film brings Marvel Phase 2 to a close.

The film took over $58 million in its opening weekend to end the reign of animation movie Minions, which slipped to number two. Ant-Man continues the box office success that Marvel are enjoying and we already know that we are going to be seeing Rudd appear as Ant-Man in Captain America: Civil War next year.

Minions too a further $50 million over the weekend to narrowly miss out on retaining the top spot at the box office. So far Minions has grossed over $625 million worldwide and is already the fourth highest grossing movie of the year.

Comedy Trainwreck, which sees Amy Schumer and Bill Hader team up with director Judd Apatow, was new in at three, while Inside Out dropped just a single place to number four. Inside Out doesn't open in the UK until Friday but has already taken over $490 million at the global box office.

Jurassic World was one of the biggest fallers on the chart this week as it dropped three places from two to number five. Terminator Genisys fell out of the top five for the first time as it fell two to number six.

Magic Mike XXL was down just a single place this week at seven, while horror movie The Gallows was the other three place faller; dropping from five to eight. Ted 2 ended the weekend at number nine - two down on last week's number seven.

Mr Holmes was the third and final new entry inside the top ten as the movie opened at number ten. The movie sees Ian McKellen take on the role of an ageing Sherlock Holmes. McKellen's performance has been met with critical acclaim and is already one of the early Best Actor Oscar contenders.