‘Black Panther’ clings to lead, nears an all-time record

Digging in its claws, “ Black Panther ” has clung to its box-office lead for a fifth straight weekend, taking in an estimated $ 27 million in North American theaters while fending off two new films , website Exhibitor Relations said Sunday .

The Disney / Marvel superhero film has now earned a domestic total of just over $ 600 million while becoming the first film since “Avatar ” in 2009 to hold the top spot for five straight weekends .

“ Black Panther ,” starring Chadwick Boseman as the superhero king of a utopian African country, has almost singlehandedly kept the year’ s box office total slightly above the same period last year. It is only days away from overtaking another Marvel film, “The Avengers , ” as the all -time top-grossing superhero film in North America , Variety reported .

It easily fended off a challenge from Warner Bros.’ newly released “Tomb Raider ,” an adventure reboot starring Swedish actress Alicia Vikander as the fearless and ferocious Lara Croft. The movie , also starring Dominic West and Kristin Scott Thomas , netted $ 23 .5 million for the three -day weekend.

In something of a surprise, third place went to a low-budget , faith-based drama, “ I Can Only Imagine ,” which took in $17 . 1 million — the biggest net ever for a film from Roadside Attractions .

Made for a modest $7 million, the movie stars J . Michael Finley as the lead singer of a popular Christian band . Dennis Quaid and Cloris Leachman also star .

In fourth , down two spots from last week, was Disney’ s science fantasy adventure “ A Wrinkle in Time, ” at $16 . 6 million, a 50 percent drop from last weekend. “ Wrinkle, ” the story of a girl ’s search through time and space for a missing father , stars Storm Reid , Oprah Winfrey , Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine .

And in fifth place was new Fox release “ Love, Simon,” at $11 . 5 million. The film stars Nick Robinson in what would be a classic love story — except that it is said to be the first romantic comedy from a mainstream studio to be told from a gay teen ’s perspective .

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“ Game Night ” ($ 5. 6 million)

“ Peter Rabbit” ($ 5. 2 million)

“ Strangers : Prey at Night ” ($ 4. 8 million)

“ Red Sparrow” ( $4 .5 million)

“ Death Wish” ($ 3. 4 million)