Action figure-turned-movie star G.I. Joe stormed his way to the top of the box office this week, crushing rivals on the first weekend in his big screen debut.
"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" raked in $56.2 million in North America and $100.3 million worldwide.
The globetrotting adventure starring Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller and Marlon Wayans enjoyed wide appeal in surprising places.
"One of the best markets on the movie was Russia," said Rob Moore of Paramount Pictures. "How far G.I. Joe has come. He was incredibly popular in Russia."
"Julie & Julia," featuring Meryl Streep as iconic female chef Julia Child, opened a solid No. 2 as an alternative for adult crowds with $20.1 million.
"G-Force," the guinea pig animated action movie and former box-office winner, earned $9.8 million and third place at the box office, and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" dropped to No. 4 with $8.9 million.
Last week's top movie, Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen's "Funny People," tumbled to No. 5 with $7.9 million, while the newest slasher thriller, "A Perfect Getaway," opened at No. 7 with $5.8 million.
"G.I. Joe" pulled Hollywood out of a month-long box-office swoon.
The downturn was particularly noticeable compared with last summer, when Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" remained No. 1 for four weeks and sent ticket sales soaring, box-office watchers said.
"'Joe' kind of saved the day," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "We needed a box-office hero to turn things around, and we certainly got it."
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