“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