'Ninja Turtles' shell-shocked by poor box office

THE latest Ninja Turtles movie debuted atop the North American box office, industry data showed Monday, but its numbers are unlikely to inspire joyous cries of "cowabunga!" among studio executives.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the fifth film in a franchise based on the 1980s comics and the second of the rebooted series, took in a disappointing US$35.3 million, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said.
Starring Megan Fox, it comes just two years after the last movie enjoyed almost double the opening weekend box office and went on to earn almost $500 million worldwide.
X-Men: Apocalypse – the ninth instalment in the series – fell to number two after making US$22.8 million, in a troubling second weekend considering its blockbuster cast that includes Jennifer Lawrence.
The romantic tearjerker Me Before You nabbed number three in its opening weekend with US$18.7 million in ticket sales, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.
The film, based on a best-selling novel of the same name, stars Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones.
Big-budget disappointment Alice Through the Looking Glass, starring Johnny Depp, fell to number four, grossing US$11.3 million in its second weekend.
The Angry Birds Movie, a 3D comedy animation inspired by a smartphone app, fell to fifth place, making US$10.2 million. — AFP