'Taken 2' tops box office with $50M debut

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Liam Neeson's action sequel "Taken 2" led the box office this weekend, proving to be twice as popular as the original.

"Taken 2" raked in $50 million domestically in its opening weekend. That's double the haul for "Taken," which took in just under $25 million for its debut in 2009.

In "Taken 2," Neeson returns as a retired CIA agent and takes on a gang of thugs who are out for revenge against him and his family.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie at the U.S. box office, Adam Sandler's animated hit "Hotel Transylvania," dropped to the No. 2 spot with $26.3 million. The singing-competition comedy "Pitch Perfect" moved up to No. 3 with $14.7 million, and time-traveling action thriller "Looper" fell to No. 4 with $12.2 million. Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" had a slow start, taking in $11.5 million.

The top 10 films of the weekend were:

1. "Taken 2," $50 million ($55 million international).
2. "Hotel Transylvania," $26.3 million ($13.1 million international).
3. "Pitch Perfect," $14.7 million ($480,000 international).
4. "Looper," $12.2 million ($7.5 million international).
5. "Frankenweenie," $11.5 million.
6. "End of Watch," $4 million.
7. "Trouble with the Curve," $3.9 million.
8. "House at the End of the Street," $3.7 million.
9. "The Master," $1.8 million.
10. "Finding Nemo," $1.6 million ($600,000 international).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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