'Taken 3' Tops US Box Office With $40.4 Million

Closing out the franchise in style, "Taken 3" topped the box office charts, earning a total of $40.4 million in its January debut in 3,594 cinemas across North America. This made the Liam Neeson-led action movie score the second-best January opening of all time, not accounting for inflation, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Last year's "Ride Along" remains the record-holder for best January debuts with $41.5 million. "Taken 3" even went "above and beyond" earlier forecasts that it would have a similar initial box office earning as that of the first "Taken" film, which only made $24.7 million in its debut in 2008, Entertainment Weekly said.

Produced by Luc Besson, the hit action flick distributed by Fox earned another $41 million overseas from 36 markets for an early foreign total of $52.3 million. Together with the North American box office figures, "Taken 3" now has a worldwide haul of $92.7 million.

"This shows the enduring popularity of the character that Liam Neeson has created," Fox distribution chief Chris Aronson said.

Even though "Taken 3" has unseated "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," it was not able to beat the $49.5 million record set by "Taken 2" in its debut in October 2012.

With the movie's box office achievement, Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore expects more from the film. "We've seen a spectacular response from both critics and moviegoers, and we are hopeful that the Academy has a similar response to the film. We are so proud of this incredibly compelling movie," said Moore.

With the direction of Olivier Megaton, the "threequel" saw Neeson reunite with cast members Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace to avenge the death of his ex-wife. It also introduced Forest Whitaker to the franchise.

Golden Globe nominee "Selma" came in second as it expanded nationwide following a limited Christmas release. The civil rights drama grossed $11.2 million from 2,157 locations for an early total of $13.5 million.

"Into the Woods," also a Golden Globe best-picture nominee, came in third with $9.8 million from 2,823 theaters, pushing its domestic total to $105.3 million for Disney and director Rob Marshall.

Peter Jackson's final Hobbit instalment followed at fourth place with $9.4 million from 3,402 locations while Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken" occupied the fifth spot, grossing $8.4 million from 3,301 theaters for a North American total of $101.6 million.