(Bloomberg) -- After three weekends at the top of the box office, Walt Disney Co.’s “Avengers: Endgame” handed over the crown to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.”

  • The third film in the “Wick” series, which depicts a hit man seeking vengeance after the death of his dog, brought in $57 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to research firm Comscore Inc. That exceeded estimates that ranged from $48 million to $52.5 million. Two other new releases -- “A Dog’s Journey” from Universal and “The Sun Is Also a Star” from Warner Bros. -- opened in fourth and eighth place, respectively.

Key Insights

  • Keanu Reeves has built a cult following for the John Wick character, who appears this time alongside Halle Berry. The film benefited from strong reviews and a cliffhanger ending to the previous installment in 2017. The film also benefited from a rating of 89% on rottentomatoes.com
  • In the tear-jerking sequel “A Dog’s Journey,” a reincarnating dog continues caring for loved ones like in the first film, “A Dog’s Purpose.”
  • A film adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s novel “The Sun Is Also a Star” follows two budding lovebirds through touristy spots in New York during their final day before the female lead and her immigrant family face deportation.
  • “Avengers: Endgame,” meanwhile, has slackened its once-torrid pace. The superhero film is still chasing “Avatar” for the record of highest-grossing movie of all time.

Get More

  • See the weekend release schedule here.
  • See Box Office Pro’s long-range forecast

To contact the reporter on this story: Hailey Waller in New York at hwaller@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Ludden at jludden@bloomberg.net, Nick Turner, Kevin Miller

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