Guardians of the Galaxy tops US box office in its debut weekend

Marvel adventure Guardians of the Galaxy has topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, taking $94 million.

Guardians of the Galaxy, which stars some of the lesser-known characters from the comic book universe, knocked science fiction thriller Lucy off the top spot.

The space adventure’s takings set a record for a film opening in August.

Get On Up, a biography of the soul singer James Brown, debuted in third with $14 million.

The Guardians of the Galaxy ensemble casts includes Zoe Saldana and Chris Pratt plus the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper.

The film also secured the third biggest opening of 2014, coming just behind the $95 million debut of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in April and the $100 million launch of Transformers: Age of Extinction in June.

A Galaxy sequel is already set for release in 2017. Marvel’s next films are the The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas. Both movies are due for release in 2015.

Marvel comic book adaptations The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past have also enjoyed success this year.

North American box office Top 5:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – $94 million
2. Lucy – $18.3 million
3. Get on Up – $14 million
4. Hercules – $10.7 million
5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $8.7 million

Source: Rentrak