‘Divergent’ scores at box office; ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ disappoints

“Divergent,� the teenage sci-fi drama starring Shailene Woodley, left the box-office competition in the dust Friday, selling an estimated $22.8 million in ticket sales on 3,936 screens for a healthy per screen average of $5,793.

While “Divergent� was expected to have an impressive debut, perhaps the biggest surprise so far is the small religious movie “God’s Not Dead,� which is on track to be the No. 3 movie this weekend.

The film, which Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment hopes will be the studio’s next successful young adult franchise a la “The Hunger Games� and “Twilight,� also took in $4.9 million at Thursday night showings.

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Early estimates anticipated that “Divergent,� based on the young adult novel series by Veronica Roth, would make rake in between $50 million and $55 million in its opening weekend, which is impressive, but not close to the 2008 “Twilight� opening weekend of $70 million or the $152.5 million for “The Hunger Games� in 2012.

The follow-up to “Divergent,� which is expected to be released next year, has been given the green-light by Lionsgate.

The weekend’s other major opening, the family comedy “Muppets Most Wanted,� is an underachiever so far. The film, which finds Kermit in a dual role as himself and a mastermind criminal, was expected to make $25 million in its first weekend. However, “Muppets� just managed an estimated $4.6 million Friday on 3,194 screens and could take in less than $20 million for the weekend.

Perhaps the biggest surprise so far is the small religious movie “God’s Not Dead,� which is on track to be the No. 3 movie this weekend.

PHOTOS: Religious movies at the box office

The independent drama, which stars Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules� fame, Dean Cain and Willie and Korie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty,� was a strong performer Friday, placing third with an estimated $2.8 on just 780 screens.

“God’s Not Dead� follows on the heels of “Son of God,� which earned an estimated $660,000 Friday for a total of $53.6 million since the religious drama about the life of Jesus Christ opened Feb. 28.

Several other religious-themed movies are scheduled for this year including Darren Aronofsky’s $130-million “Noah,� which opens next Friday.

Last week’s No. 1 film, the animated “Mr. Peabody & Sherman� dropped to fourth with a Friday estimate of $2.7 million for a total of about $72 million so far.

“Need for Speed� stalled in its second weekend with an estimated $2.2 million Friday.

Wes Anderson’s acclaimed “The Grand Budapest Hotel� continues to put out a welcome mat for audiences as it expands into more theaters. The film took in an estimated $1.8 million on just 304 screens for a total of about $8 million so far.

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