Maleficent, the box-office winner this weekend

Walt Disney`s special-effects movie on Sleeping Beauty`s sinful fairy godmother, Maleficent, has won over movie-lovers’ minds as it has managed to rake in $70 million. The North American weekend box office was flooded with Maleficent viewers.

Angelina Jolie starrer Maleficent surpassed last week’s topper, X-Men: Days of Future Past, which collected $32.6 million at U.S. and Canadian movie theatres. The third position has been taken by Seth MacFarlane`s comedy, A Million Ways to Die in the West, as it earned $17.1 million in first three days. Maleficent received mixed critic reviews but it had a strong opening on Thursday night with $4.2 million and more than 80 percent of advance ticket sales made the weekend happening for the film unit. Dave Hollis, head of distribution for Walt Disney Studios, said, "We`re very excited with this start.” The top-five list for this weekend also features Godzilla which stands fourth with $12.2 million and Blended is the fifth one with $8.4 million.