‘Fury’ takes the lead over ‘Gone Girl’ at the box office

Brad Pitt’s World War II epic “Fury” has roared to the top of the weekend box office so far, topping the previous two-week winner, “Gone Girl,” and beating out two other new high-profile entries, “The Book of Life” and “The Best of Me.”

“Fury” pulled in $8.8 million in 3,173 locations Friday, according to estimates. Though the film, which received largely positive reviews, is expected to make more than $24 million for the weekend, it apparently will fall short of the $30 million it was projected to make.

“Gone Girl,” the Ben Affleck thriller which has delighted audiences and critics the past two weeks, came in second Friday with an estimated $5.5 million in 3,249 theaters. Entering its third weekend, the drama has earned $94.8 million to date and is expected to pass $100 million this weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.

“The Book of Life,” an animated film with a Day of the Dead-flavored storyline, is in third place with $4.9 million in 3,071 locations. The film is the only new entry aimed at family audiences.

The latest Nicholas Sparks tearjerker, “The Best of Me,” landed in fourth place with $4.1 million in 2,936 locations. Though the romantic film starring Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden is not performing as well as the last Sparks adaptation “Safe Haven,” it earned a solid B+ Cinemascore rating from filmgoers.

Rounding out the top five is the family comedy, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” with $3.24 million.

Twitter: @GeBraxton