'Split' claims N. America box office crown

Split grossed $14.4m as the running total climbed to $98.5m and retained its box office crown ahead of Paramount’s horror Rings.

‘Rings’ carries a reported production cost of $25m and combined with an early $15.2m international box office for a $28.5m global weekend launch.

While Fox’s ‘Hidden Figures’ and Lionsgate’s ‘La La Land’ consolidated their $100m-plus grosses, the Weinstein Company’s ‘Lion’ added $3.76m for a $24.5m running total after 11 weekends to rank eighth.

STX Entertainment launched the romantic adventure ‘The Space Between Us’ in ninth place on a poor $3.8m from 2,812 venues.

SPC opened The Comedian starring Robert DeNiro at number 10 on $878,000 from 848 sites.

RSH/RSH