'Logan' slices box office with $85.3M, 'Moonlight' gets bump
By JAKE COYLE, Associated Press
Mar 5, 2017 11:22 AM CST
This image released by A24 Films shows Alex Hibbert in a scene from the film, "Moonlight." The film won an Oscar for best picture on Feb. 26. (David Bornfriend/A24 via AP)   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — The R-rated "X-Men" spinoff "Logan" slashed into the weekend box office, opening with a massive $85.3 million that surpassed expectations and ranks among the top March debuts ever.

The 20th Century Fox release features Hugh Jackman in what he has hinted could be his final performance as Wolverine. Word of mouth got a boost from good reviews for the unusually dark and dramatic comic-book movie that — like "Deadpool" — further proves moviegoers' hunger for less conventional superhero films.

The Oscar best-picture winner "Moonlight" had its widest release yet, appearing on 1,564 screens. It turned in its biggest weekend, too, with an estimated $2.5 million.

Last week's No. 1 film, Jordan Peele's horror sensation "Get Out" slid remarkably little. It dropped to second place but still grossed $26.1 million.

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