Sony Screen Gems' "Think Like a Man" ended the month-long box office reign of "The Hunger Games" and did it in style, hauling in an estimated $33 million in its debut to easily win the weekend.
Warner Bros.' Zac Efron movie "The Lucky One" also did better than expected and rang up $22.8 million from 3,155 locations to claim the second spot, ahead of "The Hunger Games," which finished in third with $14.5 million. Lionsgate's adaptation of Suzanne Collins' young adult novel has now grossed more than $356 million at the domestic box office.
The weekend's other new film, "Chimpanzee" from Disney, took in $10.2 million at 1,563 locations to take the No. 4 spot.
"The Three Stooges" was fifth in its second week of release for Fox, with $9.2 million. Another soph, Lionsgate's "Cabin in the Woods," finished sixth with $7.7 million.
Two films in their third week of release, Universal's "American Reunion" and Paramount's 3D re-release of "Titanic," took in an estimated $5.2 million and $5 million respectively.
The weekend belonged to "Think Like a Man," however. The African-American ensemble romantic comedy, based on an advice book by comedian Steve Harvey, finished well above studio estimates of $17 million, and beyond even more aggressive estimates to $24 million.
Also read: 'Think Like a Man' Review: Cast Makes Romantic Infomercial Click"
"Think Like a Man" targeted a young African-American audience and hit its mark, but clearly played more broadly at its 2,015 locations with an impressive $16,377 per screen average.
The movie follows four men whose love lives are shaken up after the ladies they are pursuing buy Harvey’s book and start taking his advice to heart. They conspire using the book’s insider information to turn the tables and teach the women a lesson of their own.
Tim Story directed from a script by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman. Will Packer produced. The romantic comedy stars Romany Malco, Meagan Good, Taraji P. Henson, Michael Ealy and Kevin Hart. More than 60 percent of those who saw the film were over 30, but both males and audiences under 25 gave the film an A+ with Cinemascore.
Sony made back its negative cost on "Think Like a Man" when the film did a solid $12.2 million on Friday. It's the fourth No. 1 opening of the year for the studio, which also took the top spot with "The Vow," "21 Jumpstreet" and "Underworld Awakening."