A Sony Corp special-effects thriller, “Battle: Los Angeles” has led the domestic box office over the weekend after raking in an estimated $36 million in ticket sales.

“Battle” has edged its way over last weekend’s No. 1 film, “Rango” which was outnumbered to number 2 after generating $23 million in ticket sales for Viacom Inc.’s Paramount and Nickoledeon divisions.

According to the Agence France Press, the film about a Marine unit’s fight against the invading aliens has emerged victorious mostly inviting interest among men as well as a ‘sizable minority audience’ with some Mexican and other Latin American’s storming the theatres over the weekend.

AFP attributed the significant number of minorities and ethnic groups to the film’s major stars, Latina actress, Michelle Rodriguez and African-American, R & B singer, Ne-Yo.

“We need summer to get us out of this box-office malaise. The overall box office did so- so, but aliens had a great weekend. They had a great marketing campaign and it paid off,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the President of Hollywood.com box-office division, according to Bloomberg.news.com.

Dergarabedian noted that “Battle: Los Angeles” has appeared like a summer movie with audiences responding to it favorably to its filmmakers.

Other films that made it to the top five include: Red Riding Hood ($14); The Adjustment Bureau ($11.5) and Mars Needs Moms ($6.8).

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