Gone Girl tops US box office on its opening weekend

Gone Girl has topped the US box office on its debut weekend, taking $38 million, according to early estimates.

Ben Affleck’s thriller, which also stars Rosamund Pike, is about a man who comes under suspicion when his wife mysteriously disappears.

Annabelle, featuring the creepy doll from 2013 horror The Conjuring, was a close second with $37.2 million.

Gone Girl is based on the best-selling novel by author Gillian Flynn and is directed by David Fincher, the film-maker behind The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Published in 2012, Gillian Flynn’s novel has sold more than six million copies. Earlier this year, she was commissioned by the Hogarth Shakespeare project to rewrite The Bard’s tragedy Hamlet.

Last week’s number one, The Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington, slipped to third place with $19 million.

Animation The Boxtrolls and young adult movie Maze Runner rounded out the top five.

North American box office Top five films:

1. Gone Girl – $38 million
2. Annabelle – $37.2 million
3. The Equalizer – $19 million
4. The Boxtrolls – $12.4 million
5. The Maze Runner – $12 million

Source: Rentrak