Woody and Buzz propel "Toy Story 4" to box-office dominance

Actor Tom Hanks poses with his character Woody at the premiere for "Toy Story 4" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 11, 2019. [Photo: AFP/Mario Anzuoni]

With "Toy Story 4," Pixar has again struck box-office gold, as the family-oriented sequel about Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear and friends booked an estimated $118 million in weekend ticket sales in North America, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

The film, which has Woody and Buzz embarking on a road trip with a fretful spork named Forky, was actually expected to do even better. But amid "glowing reviews," Variety predicts it will run in theaters "long throughout the summer."

This fourth "Toy Story" again features the unmistakable voice of Tom Hanks as Woody, the ever-eager but empty-holstered cowboy doll, Tim Allen as the impulsive Buzz ("To infinity, and beyond!"), along with Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves and Joan Cusack. Music is by Randy Newman.

Far back in second place -- very far back -- was another new film, horror story "Child's Play" from United Artists, at $14.1 million for the three-day weekend.

A remake of the 1988 movie about a disturbingly creepy doll named Chucky, the movie stars Mark Hamill and Aubrey Plaza. Offsetting its relatively low weekend take was its equally low production cost of $10 million.

Third place went to Disney's "Aladdin," at $12.2 million. The live-action movie, still drawing well in its fifth week out, stars Will Smith, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott.

In fourth was Sony's "Men in Black: International" at $10.8 million, down 64 percent from last weekend's opening.

The spinoff of three earlier "Men in Black" installments has Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the world-saving alien fighters -- roles previously personified by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

Fifth spot went to Universal's animated "The Secret Life of Pets 2," at $10.3 million. This sequel features the voices of Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish and Patton Oswalt in another tale of the messes animals can get into when their owners are away.

Rounding out the weekend's top 10 were:

"Rocketman" ($5.6 million)

"John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" ($4.1 million)

"Godzilla: King of the Monsters" ($3.7 million)

"X-Men: Dark Phoenix" ($3.6 million)

"Shaft" ($3.6 million)