SpongeBob knocks out “American Sniper”

“American Sniper” has been knocked off the top of the US box office by “SpongeBob SquarePants'. The second animated film to be based on the anarchic TV series took $56m in its opening weekend.

Subtitled “Sponge Out of Water”, it follows the character as he leaves his home on the ocean floor and attempts to recover a stolen burger recipe. 

“Jupiter Ascending” sold the third most tickets over the weekend. Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis and Eddie Redmayne, the sci-fi blockbuster has received wildly disparate reviews. “Seventh Son”, a 3D fantasy-action film starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore, took the fourth spot, while “Paddington”, the film adaptation of the family classic about a bear lost in the big city, came fifth.

Since its release, American Sniper has raked in $282m. Based on the memoirs of US soldier Chris Kyle, it has received six Oscar nominations, including a best actor nod for Bradley Cooper in the title role.

Source: BBC