'Conjuring 2' scares up $40.4M, breaks sequel slump

NEW YORK -- The recent slump of sequels at the box office finally caught a break with "The Conjuring 2," a horror sequel that topped weekend theaters with an estimated $40.4 million.

The Warner Bros. film, in which Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson play married paranormal investigators, opened nearly on par with the 2013 original, which also was directed by James Wan.

That film debuted with $41.8 million and went on to earn $319 million globally.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore.

Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday also are included. Final three-day domestic figures will be released today.

1. "The Conjuring 2," $40.4 million ($50 million international).

2. "Warcraft," $24.4 million ($185.8 million international).

3. "Now You See Me 2," $23 million ($20.1 million international).

4. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," $14.8 million ($13.3 million international).

5. "X-Men: Apocalypse," $10 million ($25 million international).

6. "Me Before You," $9.2 million ($5.1 million international).

7. "The Angry Birds Movie," $6.7 million ($10.4 million international).

8. "Alice Through the Looking Glass," $5.5 million ($14.6 million international).

9. "Captain America: Civil War," $4.3 million ($1.2 million international).

10. "The Jungle Book," $2.7 million ($7.5 million international).