Box office: The Accountant balances the books in North America, while Inferno heats up ticket sales overseas

A thriller starring Ben Affleck topped the North American box office this week, but the biggest winner globally was a Da Vinci Code sequel that opened overseas.

The Accountant, starring Affleck as an autistic hit man, led the way domestically with an estimated $24.7 million between Thursday and Sunday nights.

But Inferno — the third film starring Tom Hanks as a Harvard “symbologist” who uses his knowledge of Renaissance art to thwart a series of global conspiracies — made more than double that, or $50 million, when it opened in 53 markets this week.

Inferno will open in North America two weeks from now, on October 28.

Back in North America, the new film Kevin Hart: What Now? practically tied last week’s #1 film The Girl on the Train for second place, with $12 million each.

What Now? had the best opening of any stand-up comedy concert movie ever, beating the $11.1 million that The Original Kings of Comedy opened to in 2000 — though it bears mentioning that What Now? opened in nearly twice as many theatres as any other film in its genre. (What Now? opened in 2,567 theatres, whereas the previous record holder, Richard Pryor: Here and Now, opened in 1,411 theatres in 1983.)

The Girl on the Train, for its part, has earned $46.6 million domestically so far, and has earned another $33.1 million overseas, for a global total of $79.7 million.

The weekend’s other new wide release — Max Steel, a superhero flick based on a toy by Mattel — flopped completely. It landed in 11th place with $2.2 million.

Meanwhile, in other box-office news…

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children earned $8.9 million and ranked fourth in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $65.8 million. The film has earned another $130.9 million overseas for a global total of $196.8 million.

Deepwater Horizon earned $6.4 million and ranked fifth in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $49.3 million. The film has earned another $27.7 million overseas for a global total of $77 million.

Storks earned $5.6 million and ranked sixth in its fourth week, thereby raising its domestic total to $59.1 million. The film has earned another $71.6 million overseas for a global total of $130.7 million.

The Magnificent Seven earned $5.2 million and ranked fourth in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $84.8 million. The film has earned another $63.9 million overseas for a global total of $148.7 million.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life earned $4.3 million and ranked eighth in its second week, thereby raising its cume to just under $13.8 million. The film has earned another $58,681 overseas for a global total of just over $13.8 million.

Sully earned $2.9 million and ranked ninth in its sixth week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $118.4 million. The film has earned another $57.2 million overseas for a global total of $175.6 million.

And The Birth of a Nation earned $2.7 million (a drop of 61.2% since last week, the steepest in the Top 20) and ranked tenth in its second week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $12.2 million. The film does not appear to have been released overseas yet.

Now for a bit of extra data on Ben-Hur’s place among Bible-themed films:

Ben-Hur still ranks 11th among recent Bible-themed films in North America:

• 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 million
• 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $101.4 million
• 2014 — Noah — $101.2 million
• 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $65 million
• 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 million
• 2009 — Year One — $43.3 million
• 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 million
• 2016 — Risen — $36.9 million
• 1981 — History of the World, Part I — $31.7 million
• 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $30.1 million
• 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.4 million
• 2002 — Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie — $25.6 million
• 1979 — Monty Python’s Life of Brian — $20 million
• 1980 — Wholly Moses! — $14.2 million
• 2006 — One Night with the King — $13.4 million
• 1988 — The Last Temptation of Christ — $8.4 million
• 2016 — The Young Messiah — $6.5 million
• 1985 — King David — $5.1 million
• 2003 — The Gospel of John — $4.1 million

It also still ranks fifth among Bible-themed films of the past 20 years overseas (Box Office Mojo doesn’t have foreign figures for older Bible-themed films):

• 2014 — Noah — $261.4 million
• 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $241.1 million
• 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $203.2 million
• 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $117.2 million
• 2016 — Ben-Hur — $64.7 million
• 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $33.1 million
• 2009 — Year One — $19.0 million
• 2014 — Son of God — $11.1 million
• 2016 — Risen — $9.2 million
• 2006 — The Nativity Story — $8.8 million

And it still ranks fifth among Bible-themed films of the past 20 years worldwide:

• 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 + 241.1 = 611.9 million
• 2014 — Noah — $101.2 + 261.4 = 362.6 million
• 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $65.0 + 203.2 = 268.2 million
• 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $101.4 + 117.2 = 218.6 million
• 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.4 + 64.7 = 91.1 million
• 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 + 11.1 = 70.8 million
• 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $30.1 + 33.1 = 63.2 million
• 2009 — Year One — $43.3 + 19.0 = 62.4 million
• 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 + 8.8 = 46.4 million
• 2016 — Risen — $36.9 + 9.2 = 46.1 million

And now for a bit of extra data on the year’s top-grossing animated films:

In North America, The Secret Life of Pets still ranks eighth among animated films:

• 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $485.2 million
• 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $441.2 million
• 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $422.8 million
• 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $415.0 million
• 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $400.7 million
• 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $380.8 million
• 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $368.1 million
• 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $365.5 million
• 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $356.5 million
• 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $341.3 million

Overseas, Finding Dory still ranks 11th and The Secret Life of Pets still ranks 15th:

• 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $875.7 million
• 2015 — Minions (Universal) — $823.4 million
• 2012 — Ice Age: Continental Drift (Fox) — $715.9 million
• 2009 — Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox) — $690.1 million
• 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $682.3 million
• 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $648.2 million
• 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $602.7 million
• 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $559.5 million
• 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $545.7 million
• 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (DreamWorks) — $530.5 million
• 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $526.3 million
• 2010 — Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks) — $513.9 million
• 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $501.1 million
• 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks) — $500.4 million
• 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $492.2 million
• 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $478.6 million
• 2007 — Shrek the Third (DreamWorks) — $476.2 million
• 2013 — Monsters University (Pixar) — $475.7 million
• 2006 — Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox) — $465.6 million
• 2014 — How to Train Your Dragon 2 (DreamWorks) — $444.5 million

And worldwide, Finding Dory still ranks fifth, while The Secret Life of Pets now ranks 12th:

• 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $400.7 + 875.7 = 1276.5 million
• 2015 — Minions (Universal) — $336.0 + 823.4 = 1159.4 million
• 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $415.0 + 648.2 = 1063.2 million
• 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $341.3 + 682.3 = 1023.6 million
• 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $485.2 + 526.3 = 1011.5 million
• 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $368.1 + 602.7 = 970.8 million
• 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $422.8 + 545.7 = 968.5 million
• 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $380.8 + 559.5 = 940.3 million
• 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $441.2 + 478.6 = 919.8 million
• 2009 — Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox) — $196.6 + 690.1 = 886.7 million
• 2012 — Ice Age: Continental Drift (Fox) — $161.3 + 715.9 = 877.2 million
• 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $365.5 + 492.2 = 857.7 million
• 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $356.5 + 501.1 = 857.6 million
• 2007 — Shrek the Third (DreamWorks) — $322.7 + 476.2 = 799.0 million
• 2010 — Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks) — $238.7 + 513.9 = 752.6 million
• 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (DreamWorks) — $216.4 + 530.5 = 746.9 million
• 2013 — Monsters University (Pixar) — $268.5 + 475.7 = 744.2 million
• 2009 — Up (Pixar) — $293.0 + 442.1 = 735.1 million
• 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks) — $165.2 + 500.4 = 665.7 million
• 2006 — Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox) — $195.3 + 465.6 = 660.9 million

Next week brings us Keeping Up with the Joneses as well as the newest entries in the Jack Reacher, Madea and Ouija franchises.