Analysts expected the movie, Tim Burton's live-action remake of the 1941 classic about a small elephant with huge and magical ears, to take in at least $50 million in its opening three-day weekend, according to Variety. The film had a $170 million production budget.

With a cast including Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Eva Green and Danny DeVito, "Dumbo" may yet catch on overseas, where it has taken in $71 million. The last Burton/Disney live-action  collaboration, "Alice in Wonderland," earned $1.02 billion worldwide.

"Dumbo" pushed last weekend's box office leader, "Us," down to second place but the Universal horror film still brought in a respectable $33.6 million. Written and directed by Jordan Peele, "Us" stars Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke as a couple frighteningly confronted by their doppelgangers.

Read also: 'Dumbo': Turbulent flying elephant ride

In third spot was another Disney film, "Captain Marvel," which had North American ticket sales of $20.5 million, pushing its cumulative worldwide total to just under $1 billion. Oscar winner Brie Larson stars as a former fighter pilot with superpowers.

Lionsgate's "Five Feet Apart," featuring Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse as a pair of enamored teens who must keep their distance as they deal with cystic fibrosis, came in fourth at $6.3 million.

Fifth place went to new release "Unplanned" from Christian production company Pure Flix, at $6.1 million -- a shade over its $6 million production budget. Ashley Bratcher stars in the true story of a young Planned Parenthood employee who becomes an anti-abortion activist.

Rounding out the weekend's top 10 were: 

"Wonder Park" ($4.9 million)

"How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" ($4.2 million)

"Hotel Mumbai" ($3.2 million)

"A Madea Family Funeral" ($2.7 million)

"The Beach Bum" ($1.8 million)

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