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'Deadpool' dominates again with $55 million in 2nd week

<p>Deadpool had the best opening for an R-rated flick ever, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFYDD7XqiIA" target="_blank">he's still upset</a>. There's just no pleasing that guy. </p><p>Holding on to the No. 1 spot for the second week in a row is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyKWUTwSYAs" target="_blank">"Deadpool,"</a> bringing in an <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/" target="_blank">estimated $55 million</a> and pushing its domestic total past $235 million. </p><p>To give you an idea of just how well the R-rated superhero is doing, after just 10 days, "Deadpool" has grossed more money domestically than any of the seven <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=xmen.htm" target="_blank">other X-Men films</a> did during their entire box office runs.</p><p>Maybe Fox should have done this earlier instead of greenlighting <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1NTVIhUQU" target="_blank">two terrible movies</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6zYnHwQWA" target="_blank">about Wolverine</a>. </p><p>For the fourth week in a row, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10r9ozshGVE" target="_blank">"Kung Fu Panda 3"</a> stayed in the top three, bringing in an <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=kungfupanda3.htm" target="_blank">estimated $12.5 million</a>. This is also the second week in a row that Fox has taken the top two spots at the box office. </p><p>Taking the No. 3 spot this week is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxgm2TJr2m0" target="_blank">"Risen."</a> The faith-based film brought in an <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=risen.htm" target="_blank">estimated $11.8 million</a> in its debut — a solid opening for a film that cost just $20 million to produce. </p><p>While we all knew Deadpool was going to take the No. 1 spot, this was still a fairly crowded weekend at the box office with three new wide releases. "Risen" beat out the critically acclaimed horror flick <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXmlf3Sefg" target="_blank">"The Witch"</a> as well as the Jesse Owens biopic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxAvu5CBejo" target="_blank">"Race."</a></p><p>Faith-based films tend to have ... well, a faithful audience — <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gods_not_dead/" target="_blank">despite rotten reviews.</a> That being said, "Risen" isn't <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/risen_2016/" target="_blank">catching the same flack</a> that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMjo5f9eiX8" target="_blank">many faith-based films get</a>. </p><p>One critic from<a href="http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/risen-takes-a-grim-approach-to-the-crucifixion.html?mid=full-rss-vulture" target="_blank"> Vulture writes</a>, "For a film that could have easily become bogged down in Sunday school reverence, or culture-war opportunism, 'Risen' presents an intriguing, oblique approach to a Bible movie."</p><p>As for next week, a lot of CGI and a lot of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S37sBYwlULs" target="_blank">Egyptians played by white guys</a>. </p>
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NEW YORK (AP) — Marvel's R-rated antihero smash "Deadpool" continued to dominate movie theaters over the weekend, earning an estimated $55 million and trouncing a trio of newcomers.

After pulling in a massive $152.2 million in its President's Day weekend four-day debut, the comic book adaptation from 20th Century Fox starring Ryan Reynolds as a foul-mouthed mercenary again topped the North American box office. Having already grossed $235.4 million domestically, "Deadpool" — made for just $58 million — is poised to become one of the most successful R-rated movies ever.

Globally, the film — now certain to spawn a franchise of its own — has made $491.1 million thus far.

Among new releases, the faith-based drama "Risen" debuted with $11.8 million. The film, in which Joseph Fiennes plays a Roman soldier investigating the death and resurrection of Jesus, was made for about $20 million by Sony's Affirm label, which targets evangelical Christian moviegoers.

A24's critically acclaimed Puritan thriller "The Witch" opened with $8.7 million, marking the biggest opening of the indie label behind the Oscar-nominated drama "Room." A24 celebrated Robert Eggers' directorial debut — an austere 1600s horror film, rigorously authentic to the period — as not only the company's biggest weekend in its three-year history, but one that put "The Witch" on course to be "the most successful film of all time with a goat in a starring role."

It may have been too art house for some horror fans, though, as "The Witch" received a poor C-minus CinemaScore from audiences.

The Jesse Owens biopic from Focus Features, "Race," struggled to find its footing with $7.3 million. Directed by Stephen Hopkins, "Race" stars Stephan James as the Olympic sprinter.

Edging out the three debuts was Fox's "Kung Fu Panda 3," which made $12.5 million in its fourth weekend. The animated sequel, which has made $117.1 million in total, will lose its near-exclusive window of family moviegoing next weekend when Disney's "Zootopia" opens. That film has already begun its overseas rollout, where it made $31.2 million from 22 territories over the weekend.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Deadpool," $55 million ($85 million international.)

2. "Kung Fu Panda 3," $12.5 million ($7.2 million international).

3. "Risen," $11.8 million.

4. "The Witch," $8.7 million.

5. "How To Be Single," $8.2 million ($10.9 million international).

6. "Race," $7.3 million.

7. "Zoolander 2," $5.5 million ($4.8 million international).

8. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $3.8 million ($2.6 million international).

9. "The Revenant," $3.8 million ($8.6 million international).

10. "Hail, Caesar!" $2.6 million ($5.8 million international).

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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:

1. "Deadpool," $85 million.

2. "The Mermaid," $56 million.

3. "Zootopia," $31.2 million.

4. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny," $21 million.

5. "The Monkey King 2," $13 million.

6. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $11.7 million.

7. "How to Be Single," $10.9 million.

8. "From Vegas to Macau III," $9.5 million.

9. "The Revenant," $8.6 million.

10. "Kung Fu Panda 3," $7.2 million.