'Ender's Game' Opens At Top Of US Box Office With $28 Million

The Sci-fi action film 'Ender's Game' tops the US box office on its opening weekend, raking in $28 million, according to Box Office Mojo. The adaptation of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi novel of the same name was released on Friday (Nov 1st), and while it received a mixed reception, it did not totally flop in US theatres. Although it is at no.1, the film needs to rapidly increase its domestic takings to justify its $110 million budget.

'Ender's Game', directed by Gavin Hood, stars Asa Butterfield as a gifted boy, who is sent to military school in space to train for a future alien invasion, called 'Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin. The youngster stars alongside Hollywood legend, Harrison Ford, who plays the role of 'Colonel Graff', the leader of the military school who sees something in 'Ender', a hope to end all wars.

The cast also includes Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) Viola Davis (The Help) Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Abigail Breslin (The Call).

Read Contact Music's review of 'Ender's Game' here

The space thriller overtook Johnny Knoxville’s ‘Bad Grandpa’ for the top spot as the new 'Jackass' spin-off claimed the top position on its debut with an impressive $32 million. In its second week the hidden-camera comedy raked in a modest $20.5 million.

Hollywood's newest comedy 'Last Vegas', which features one of the most star studded cast in recent memories, hit theatres this Friday (Nov 1st) to an underwhelming reception. Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline, who hit Sin City for one last bachelor party, came in 3rd position with a domestic taking of $16.5 million.

Box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak told the Associated Press, "Ender's Game' is a big budget movie that could be the start of a franchise." Adding, "This time of year is not exactly a hotbed of million-dollar openings, but once they launch worldwide, it will do well."

"It's interesting to see the number of stars that are not in their 20s in the top films," Dergarabedian said. "'Ender's Game' has Harrison Ford and Viola Davis, and 'Last Vegas' is like a 'Hangover' for the older crowd. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney (in 'Gravity') appeal to an older audience, and '12 Years a Slave,' which continues to impress as it expands into more and more theaters, is a very sophisticated drama."

Ender's Game is released in US cinemas Friday (1st November 2013). For audiences in the UK, the film has been out in cinemas since 25th October 2013.

Watch the 'Ender's Game' trailer here

The US Box-office list:

1. 'Ender's Game,' $28 million ($2 million international).

2. 'Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,' $20.5 million ($6 million international).

3. 'Last Vegas,' $16.5 million.

4. 'Free Birds,' $16.2 million.

5. 'Gravity,' $13.1 million ($27.1 million international).

6. 'Captain Phillips,' $8.5 million ($10 million international).

7. '12 Years a Slave,' $4.6 million.

8. 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,' $4.2 million ($11.5 million international).

9. 'Carrie,' $3.4 million ($1.6 million international).

10. 'The Counselor,' $2.3 million ($2.6 million international)