'Transformers: Age of Extinction' crushes 'Tammy', 'Deliver Us From Evil' to lead weekend box office

Los Angeles/ New York: 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' collected $36.4 million in ticket sales over the three-day July 4 weekend, storming ahead of new films 'Tammy,' 'Deliver Us From Evil' and 'Earth to Echo' to lead the U.S. and Canadian box office for a second consecutive weekend.

The special effects-laden blockbuster, starring Mark Wahlberg and a cast of form-changing robots, had the year's biggest opening weekend a week ago with $100 million in sales.

The comedy 'Tammy,' starring Melissa McCarthy as a fast food worker who has a very bad day, was second with $21.2 million, according to studio estimates. Horror film 'Deliver Us from Evil' generated sales of $9.5 million for third place.

'Transformers: Age of Extinction' has enjoyed a huge worldwide reception, generating more than $212 million in China alone, where it had a flashy star-studded premiere. The film has generated more than $575 million globally, according to box office tracking firm Rentrak.

'Tammy' fell short of industry experts' $24 million estimate on the heels of weak reviews. The film, which received a 'fresh' rating from only 29 of 111 reviewers tabulated by Rotten Tomatoes, was written by McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone, who also directed.

The movie, made for a relatively inexpensive $20 million, features a high voltage cast including Susan Sarandon as Tammy's grandmother, Dan Aykroyd as her father and Kathy Bates as a cousin.

'Deliver Us From Evil' stars Australian actor Eric Bana as a New York City cop who solves a case which he believes involves the devil. The movie is based on the investigative experiences of New York policeman Ralph Sarchie, who developed a knowledge of demonology which he used in many cases.

The buddy comedy '22 Jump Street', starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as undercover cops in college, took the No. 4 spot with ticket sales of $9.4 million in its fourth weekend in movie theaters. It has totaled nearly $159 million at the box office, according to Rentrak.

Rounding out the top five, animated 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' took in $8.75 million, ahead of the PG-rated action adventure 'Earth to Echo' which totaled $8.25 million. The movie tells the story of three young friends who are directed by signals on their cell phones to a small friendly alien robot that they need to help find his way home.

Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom, distributed 'Transformers: Age of Extinction.' 'Tammy' was released by Time Warner's studio Warner Brothers. Sony distributed 'Deliver Us from Evil' and '22 Jump Street.' 'Earth to Echo' was distributed by Relativity Media.

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