Mystery thriller Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper as an author who taps his full brain potential after sampling a revolutionary new drug, topped the North American weekend box office, preliminary data showed on Sunday.

The darkly comic film benefited from a charismatic lead actor in Mr Cooper, of 2009 smash hit The Hangover, to make $19 million in its debut weekend, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

In second place was Paramount’s eccentric animated film Rango, with the voice talent of Johnny Depp in a tale about a chameleon who becomes sheriff to clean up the town of Dirt, and had $15.3 million in ticket sales.

Slipping from the top spot to third was Battle: Los Angeles, which tells the story of a unit of US Marines fighting invading aliens. The film took in $14.6 million across North America.

The Matthew McConaughey-starring drama The Lincoln Lawyer debuted in the fourth spot, with $13.4 million, while British comic star Simon Pegg’s science fiction romp Paul took $13.1 million, also in its opening weekend.

In sixth was Red Riding Hood, a gothic retelling of the classic fairy tale, starring Amanda Seyfried as a strong-willed teenager in a love triangle, had $7.2 million in sales as it slid three spots in its second weekend.

Thriller The Adjustment Bureau had $5.9 million in takings for the seventh spot, while Disney’s Mars Needs Moms! slipped three slots for the weekend’s number eight with $5.3 million in estimated sales.

Ninth place went to critically- panned teen romance flick Beastly with $3.2 million, ahead of comedy Hall Pass with $2.6 million.

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