Top 10 movies of the week

Los Angeles: Sony´s "Bullet Train," the last major studio release of the summer, sped to solid ticket sales of $30.1 million this weekend to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday.

It was a "solid opening for an action thriller," said analyst David A. Gross, adding that the presence of lead star Brad Pitt "is going to ensure international success."

Pitt, who plays a professional assassin on a Japanese train seemingly loaded with them, heads a cast that includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Latin music star Bad Bunny, as well as Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in bit roles.

Helming "Bullet Train" is Pitt´s former stunt double, David Leitch, who has earned a name directing action films.

Last weekend´s box-office leader, Warner Bros.´ animated "DC League of Super-Pets," slipped a notch to second, taking in $11.2 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

Third place went to Universal´s horror flick "Nope," at $8.5 million. The sci-fi flick, boosted by the involvement of popular writer/director Jordan Peele, stands just shy of a $100 million gross domestically.

In fourth was Disney´s action comedy "Thor: Love and Thunder," at $7.6 million. Chris Hemsworth stars as the uber-muscular space Viking, who pines for his ex-girlfriend (Natalie Portman).

And in fifth was Universal´s family-friendly animation "Minions: The Rise of Gru." This latest episode in the "Despicable Me" franchise took in $7.1 million.

Overall, the summer season has been good for Hollywood, Gross said. "Audiences have been doing everything they´ve been asked... and business has been very good for all types of films."

Rounding out the weekend´s top 10 were:

"Top Gun: Maverick" ($7 million)

"Where the Crawdads Sing" ($5.7 million)

"Easter Sunday" ($5.3 million)

"Elvis" ($4 million)

"The Black Phone" ($1.5 million)