LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Animated comedy Despicable Me 4 rose to the top of the North American box office on its first weekend in cinemas, according to figures from industry watcher Exhibitor Relations published Sunday.

The fourth major instalment of the Minions universe, which features Will Ferrell voicing a new villain, racked up US$75 million in ticket sales in the US and Canada since its Friday release by Universal Pictures.

“This is an outstanding opening for the 4th episode of an animation series, ranking only behind Toy Story 4,” said box office analyst David A Gross.

In second place, with US$30 million, was Inside Out 2, the coming-of-age Disney and Pixar film which was knocked off the top spot after enjoying three consecutive weekends there.

Apocalyptic horror A Quiet Place: Day One was in third place after taking in US$21 million with its story of New Yorkers who must remain silent to survive an invasion by extraterrestrial creates with acute hearing.

MaXXXine, a slasher that sees a mysterious killer stalking an aspiring actress in Hollywood, took fourth place with US$6.7 million in ticket sales.

Will Smith’s action-comedy Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which also stars Martin Lawrence, took the last top five spot as it earned US$6.5 million.