Thor: The Dark World has topped the US box office for a second week but romantic comedy The Best Man Holiday opened strongly in second place.

Thor: The Dark World took $38.5 million over the weekend, while The Best Man Holiday took $30.6 million.

The Best Man Holiday, which reunites the characters from 1999’s The Best Man, is considered a surprise challenger to Thor‘s crown.

It features a largely African-American ensemble cast, including Taye Diggs and Morris Chestnut.

The romantic comedy follows a group of college friends who reunite over Christmas and reignite old rivalries and romances.

Movies that appeal particularly to black audiences – particularly those by prolific director Tyler Perry – have recently been surpassing expectations at the US box office.

Third place in this week’s chart was taken by Last Vegas – a “sexagenarian version of The Hangover” – starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline as four old friends on a stag weekend, with takings of $8.9 million.

Thor: The Dark World has topped the US box office for a second week

Animation Free Birds was fourth with $8.3 million, followed by Jackass comedy Bad Grandpa in fifth spot with $7.7 million.

Oscar-tipped sci-fi Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, held firm in sixth place, while Harrison Ford’s Ender’s Game slipped from third to seventh.

Twelve Years a Slave was in eighth position, with Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, in ninth.

British romantic comedy About Time was at number 10.

The race for the lucrative Christmas box office starts this Friday, with the opening action movie Hunger Games: Catching Fire – which is expected to score one of the year’s biggest debuts.

North American box office: Top 5

1. Thor: The Dark World – $38.5 million

2. The Best Man Holiday – $30.6 million

3. Last Vegas – $8.9 million

4. Free Birds – $8.3 million

5. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $7.7 million

Source: Hollywood.com

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Thor: The Dark World topped the North American box office, taking $86.1 million in its opening weekend.

The sequel to the 2011 movie sees Chris Hemsworth reprise his role as the god of thunder who battles to save Earth from evil forces.

Bad Grandpa, from the makers of Jackass, held the number two spot for a second week, taking $11.3 million.

Animated film Free Birds was just behind at three with $11.2 million.

Free Birds features the voices of Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson as a pair of turkeys who try to keep their kind off Thanksgiving dinner plates.

Last Vegas, featuring Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline as four friends who reunite for a stag party, fell one place to four.

Thor: The Dark World topped the North American box office, taking $86.1 million in its opening weekend

Last week’s number one, Ender’s Game, tumbled down the chart in its second week to five.

Industry forecasts had predicted the second Thor installment would debut with at least $90 million. The new movie missed that target but did surpass the original film, which opened with $65.7 million.

North American Box Office Top 5:

1. Thor: The Dark World – $86.1 million

2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $11.3 million

3. Free Birds – $11.2 million

4. Last Vegas – $11.1 million

5. Ender’s Game – $10.2 million

Source: Hollywood.com

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