Depp's 'Alice' bombs, 'X-Men: Apocalypse' on top with $65M

Johnny Depp's Alice Through the Looking Glass bombed over the Memorial Day weekend with just $28.1 million through Sunday in North American theaters, while X-Men: Apocalypse, debuted on top with an estimated $65 million.

The anticipated showdown of the two big-budget films turned out to be little contest for 20th Century Fox's latest X-Men installment. Both films were lambasted by critics, and neither drew the audience many expected over the holiday weekend.

Disney's Alice Through the Looking Glass, had more than bad reviews to deal with. On Friday, as the film was hitting theaters, Amber Heard, Depp's wife, was granted a restraining order after alleging that the actor previously assaulted her. She appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday with a bruise on her right cheek. Some fans called for a boycott of Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore, said it was difficult to quantify how much the fortunes of Disney's Alice Through the Looking Glass turned Friday afternoon when news of Heard's allegations spread.

"I think the reviews had more to do with the film's performance than any personal drama for Depp," Dergarabedian said.

STAGGERING FALL

Before Heard's court appearance on Friday, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland sequel had been expected to open above $60 million. Disney estimates that the film, which cost $170 million to produce, will gross $35.6 million over the four-day weekend.

It's a staggering fall for a sequel that returned Depp one of Hollywood's biggest stars, albeit with a recently chequered box-office history as the Mad Hatter. Alice in Wonderland featuring then-novel 3-D made more than $1 billion worldwide in 2010 after opening with $116 million domestically.

"It's a disappointing result," said Dave Hollis, distribution chief for Disney. "We have embarked on a branded tent-pole strategy that makes big bets. But when you make big bets, there are times when you have results that are disappointing."

Here are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US, and Canadian theaters, according to comScore:

1. X-Men: Apocalypse, $65 million ($55.3 million international).

2. Alice Through the Looking Glass, $28.1 million ($65 million international).

3. The Angry Birds Movie, $18.7 million ($31.8 million international).

4. Captain America: Civil War, $15.1 million ($12.5 million international).

5. Neighbors: Sorority Rising, $9.1 million ($4.5 million international).

6. The Jungle Book, $7 million ($5.3 million international).

7. The Nice Guys, $6.4 million ($2.8 million international).

8. Money Monster, $4.3 million ($6.7 million international).

9. Love & Friendship, $2.5 million.

10. Zootopia, $831,000 ($4 million international).

- AP