Now You See Me 3 tops box office

The Now You See Me franchise has pulled off another neat trick, returning to the top of the North American box office with its third instalment. Lionsgate's 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' conjured up $8.4 million from Friday and preview screenings across 3,403 locations, setting the stage for a weekend haul of $21 million to $24 million — close to expectations and in line with the series' 2016 entry.

Despite middling critical notices, the film is the best-reviewed chapter of the trilogy so far, while audiences offered a broadly positive B+ from CinemaScore. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the PG-13 threequel reunites Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco, with Lionsgate investing more than $90 million to revive the illusionist caper. As with previous films, overseas markets are expected to play a decisive role in its final tally.

Paramount's The Running Man, starring Glen Powell, is battling with the second weekend of Disney's Predator: Badlands for the runner-up slot. The Stephen King adaptation opened to $6.4 million from Friday and previews, putting it on track for a softer-than-expected $17 million to $19 million debut — a shaky start for a film budgeted at $110 million.

Neon's horror release Keeper is heading for a modest fifth-place opening with around $1 million from 1,950 sites. Meanwhile, Predator: Badlands added $3.5 million on Friday, pushing its domestic haul past $56 million, and Paramount's Regretting You continues its steady run, reaching an expected $45 million by Sunday.