LOS ANGELES, July 10 (UPI) -- "Fantastic Four" grossed an estimated $56 million in its opening weekend, and may have led the U.S. box office out of a 19-week long slump.
Nielsen EDI estimated overall ticket sales amounted to $149 million, slightly better than the $148.3 million sold during the post-Independence Day weekend last year, Daily Variety reported.
Box-office analysts will wait until official numbers come out on Monday to declare the end of Hollywood's losing streak of 19 consecutive weeks in which the box office has taken in less money than it did during comparable weekends in 2004.
"Fantastic Four" had the third-biggest opening weekend of the year so far -- behind only "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" ($108 million) and "War of the Worlds" ($64.9 million).
In its second weekend, "War of the Worlds" took in $31.3 million, and now stands at $165.8 million. "Batman Begins" was No. 3 with $10.2 million, and has now grossed $172.1 million.
The new supernatural thriller "Dark Water" was fourth with $10.1 million in its debut weekend, followed by "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" which added $7.9 million to its overall take, now at $158.7 million.
