NORTH AMERICA: 'Noah' Sails Along at #1 with $2.6 Million on Wednesday

4/3 Update: Paramount reports that Noah earned $2.61 million on Wednesday, off 28 percent from Tuesday. That brings Darren Aronofsky's film up to $53.04 million domestically through 6 days of release--18 percent ahead of the pace of 2010's Robin Hood.

Divergent claimed second place again yesterday as it dropped 20 percent from Tuesday to $1.56 million. That figure is also off 53 percent from the same day last week. Divergent has tallied $99.55 million domestically through 13 days of release.

Freestyle's God's Not Dead added $0.77 million to its take yesterday, easing 5 percent from Tuesday and just 21 percent from the same day last week. The film's domestic total thus far is $24.1 million.

Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel raked in $0.71 million on Wednesday for a 12 percent drop from Tuesday and 4 percent week-to-week increase. Hotel has amassed $26.4 million domestically.

Muppets Most Wanted rounded out the top five on Wednesday with $0.65 million. That's off 16 percent from Tuesday and 43 percent from Wednesday of last week, bringing the sequel's cume to $35.2 million after 13 days.

Meanwhile, David Ayer's Sabotage mustered up $0.365 million yesterday, giving it a $6.55 million 6-day total. The film is off the pace of fellow Arnold Schwarzenegger-starrer The Last Stand by 20 percent.

4/2 Update:

By Daniel Garris

Paramount's Noah grossed $3.60 million on Tuesday to lead the daily box office for a fifth consecutive day. In the process, the Darren Aronofsky directed biblical epic starring Russell Crowe surpassed the $50 million mark. Noah was up a solid 16 percent over Monday's performance. With a five-day start of $50.43 million, Noah is currently running 5 percent behind the $53.13 million five-day take of 300: Rise of an Empire and 75 percent ahead of the $28.86 million five-day gross of Son of God. With Disney's Captain America: The Winter Soldier entering the marketplace on Friday, it is especially important for Noah to gross as much as it can this week.

Divergent held steady in second place with $1.94 million. Lionsgate's young adult adaptation starring Shailene Woodley increased 17 percent over Monday and was down 54 percent from last Tuesday. With a twelve-day take of $97.98 million, Divergent is set to reach the $100 million domestic milestone on Thursday. Divergent is currently running 20 percent behind the $122.66 million twelve-day gross of 2008's Twilight.

God's Not Dead grossed $0.812 million to remain in third place. The faith-based drama from Freestyle and Pure Flix was up 11 percent over Monday and down a slim 19 percent from last Tuesday. God's Not Dead has grossed a significantly stronger than expected $23.29 million in twelve days. That places the film 36 percent ahead of the $17.18 million twelve-day gross of 2011's Courageous.

Fox Searchlight's The Grand Budapest Hotel claimed fourth place with $0.806 million. The critically acclaimed Wes Anderson directed film increased 16 percent over Monday and 11 percent over last Tuesday (when it was playing in significantly fewer locations). The Grand Budapest Hotel has grossed a healthy $25.67 million through 26 days of release.

Muppets Most Wanted rounded out Tuesday's unchanged top five with $0.774 million. The latest Muppets film from Disney was up 15 percent over Monday and down 45.5 percent from last Tuesday. Muppets Most Wanted has grossed $34.56 million in twelve days, which places the film an underwhelming 39 percent behind the $56.36 million twelve-day gross of 2011's The Muppets.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman placed in sixth with $0.681 million. The 3D computer animated film from Fox and DreamWorks Animation was up 12 percent from Monday and down 45 percent from last Tuesday. Mr. Peabody & Sherman has grossed a respectable $95.77 million in 26 days, which leaves the film just $4.23 million away from reaching the $100 million domestic mark.

Open Road's Sabotage continued to claim seventh place with $0.473 million. The action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was up just 8 percent over Monday. Sabotage has grossed a disappointing $6.18 million in five days, which places the film 20.5 percent behind the already soft $7.77 million five-day start of last year's The Last Stand.