"Underworld Awakening," the fourth installment in the "Underworld" series, made an estimated $25.4 million. Sony expected the movie to gross in the low-$20 million range.
Kate Beckinsale returned with a vengeance for the latest vampire action film after bowing out from the third. Analysts believe that's what brought movie-goers back to the franchise.
"Underworld Awakening" was shown for the first time in 3-D as well as on IMAX screens, where it made $3.8 million. That's 15 percent of the film's weekend gross, a record for an IMAX digital-only run.
"Red Tails" opened in second place with $19.1 million.
Last weekend's box office topper "Contraband" fell to third place with $12.2 million.
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" ranked fourth with $10.5 million, while "Haywire" opened in fifth place with $9 million dollars.
The top 10 films of the weekend were:
1. "Underworld Awakening," $25.4 million ($13.4 million international).
2. "Red Tails," $19.1 million.
3. "Contraband," $12.2 million.
4. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," $10.5 million.
5. "Haywire," $9 million.
6. "Beauty and the Beast (3-D)," $8.6 million.
7. "Joyful Noise," $6.1 million.
8. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," $5.5 million. ($9.4 million international).
9. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $4.8 million. ($18.1 million international).
10. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," $3.75 million ($15.7 international).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
