'Lego Batman' tears down 'The Great Wall' to stay No. 1

NEW YORK -- "The Great Wall" was a hit in China. In North America, it was a dud.

The most expensive film made in China and with a budget of $150 million, "The Great Wall" was intended to prove that the world's No. 2 movie marketplace could produce Hollywood-sized blockbusters of its own.

Though it ran up $171 million in ticket sales in China, "The Great Wall" pulled in $18.1 million in its North American debut over Presidents Day weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

That was good enough for third place, falling behind last weekend's top two films, "The Lego Batman" and "Fifty Shades Darker."

The Warner Bros. animated release easily led the box office again with $34.2 million in its second week, sliding only 35 percent.

Universal's "Fifty Shades Darker" sold $21 million in tickets in its second week.

The erotic sequel continues to play well overseas, where it led international business with $43.7 million over the weekend.

Slammed by critics, "The Great Wall" didn't measure up to its initial ambitions.

It was produced by Legendary Entertainment, which has been acquired by Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group.

The film, directed by Zhang Yimou, originated with an idea by Legendary chief executive Thomas Tull, who left the company last month.