Jumanji: The Next Level, Sony’s adventure sequel debuted in first place to $60.1 million, dethroning “Frozen” after three consecutive weeks as box office champion.
Those figures represent a healthy jump on the $36 million start of its predecessor, 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.”
It also marks the highest debut for a December comedy, as well as the best launch for live-action movie for stars Kevin Hart and Jack Black.
Overseas, “Jumanji 2” kicked off with $85 million for a global start of $145 million.
The movie opened in a few foreign territories last weekend, bringing receipts to $152 million at the international box office and $213 million worldwide.
Directed by Jake Kasdan, “Jumanji: The Next Level” was embraced by audiences, who awarded it with an A- CinemaScore. The follow-up — also starring Dwayne Johnson, Nick Jonas and Karen Gillan — follows the group of friends who return to the fantastical, and even more dangerous, world of Jumanji.