Alita: Battle Angel jumps ahead of The Lego Movie sequel to land U.S. box office crown

Robert Rodriguez’s new movie Alita: Battle Angel has jumped ahead of The Lego Movie sequel to claim the top spot at the U.S. box office.
The movie, produced by James Cameron, snagged a $24.4 million (£18.9 million) opening weekend haul to beat out Lego Movie 2: The Second Part to the top in America. The animated hit drops a spot to two with a three-day $19.1 million (£14.8 million).
Alita also made a killing overseas and is expected to claim a $136 million (£105.4 million) global tally by Monday (17Feb19), when all estimates are collected.
The film also opens in China on Monday.
Rebel Wilson’s new comedy It’s So Romantic, which also feaures newlyweds Liam Hemsworth and Priyanka Chopra, debuts at three at the U.S. box office with a $13.3 million (£10.3 million) weekend haul and Taraji P. Henson’s What Men Want and horror thriller Happy Death Day 2U complete the new top five.
It hasn’t been a good Presidents Day weekend for the U.S. box office, which chalks up the worst figures for the same four day period since 2001.
Last year (18), Marvel juggernaut Black Panther was released over the holiday on its way to becoming the third-highest four-day opener of all-time with $242.1 million (£188 million).
Last year’s Presidents Day weekend raked in a total of $346.6 million (£269 million) at the U.S. office, according to ComScore, well over twice the takings this year ($151.1 million/£117.1 million).