NORTH AMERICA: 'Hotel Transylvania 2' Continues to Lead on Tuesday with $2.98M; 'The Intern' Second with $2.41M; 'Everest' Third with $1.61M

By Daniel Garris

Sony's Hotel Transylvania 2 led the daily box office for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday after taking in $2.98 million for the day. The Adam Sandler led 3D computer animated sequel from Sony Pictures Animation was up 27 percent over Monday. Hotel Transylvania 2 has grossed a strong $53.78 million through five days of release. The film is outpacing pre-release expectations and is running an impressive 16 percent ahead of the $46.51 million five-day start of 2012's Hotel Transylvania (which increased 22 percent on its first Tuesday to gross $2.19 million).

Warner's The Intern held steady in second with $2.41 million. The Nancy Meyers directed comedy starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway increased a very strong 60 percent over Monday's performance. The Intern passed the $20 million mark yesterday and has grossed $21.65 million in five days. The film is performing towards the higher end of expectations and is running 10 percent ahead of the $19.62 million five-day start of 2013's Last Vegas (which increased 41 percent on its first Tuesday to take in $1.92 million).

Everest took in $1.61 million to remain in third place. The 3D adventure drama from Universal was up 46.5 percent over Monday and up 89 percent over last Tuesday. After a healthy start in exclusive IMAX and PLF release last week, Everest has failed to erupt in wide release this week. The twelve-day total for Everest stands at $25.99 million. Everest will hope to hold up well going forward with the help of strong word of mouth, but will also be facing major new competition from Fox's highly anticipated The Martian beginning on Friday.

Warner's Black Mass continued to claim fourth place with $1.44 million. The Johnny Depp led crime drama was up 38 percent over Monday and down 47 percent from last Tuesday. Black Mass continues to perform relatively stronger on weekdays than on weekends and has grossed a solid $44.62 million in twelve days. That places the film 10 percent ahead of the $40.52 million twelve-day take of 2013's Prisoners.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials rounded out the day's unchanged top five with $1.22 million. The young adult sequel from Fox increased 39 percent from Monday and decreased 51 percent from last Tuesday. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials has grossed $54.05 million in twelve days. That is below expectations and places the film 10 percent behind the $60.18 million twelve-day gross of last year's The Maze Runner.

On the platform front, Lionsgate's Sicario continued to impress with $199,896 on Tuesday from 59 locations. That gave Sicario a strong per-location average of $3,388 for the day. The critically acclaimed crime thriller starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin has grossed $2.67 million in twelve days of platform release. Sicario appears to be in good shape for its expansion into wide release this coming weekend.