MUMBAI: Grossing $24.4 million Fox 2000’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules came winner in the weekend box-office race that delivered the studio a new franchise.

On the other hand, Warner Bros.‘ Sucker Punch grossed $19 million.

Rodrick Rules, based on childrens‘ book series and screening in 3,167 theatres came in ahead of the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which opened a year ago to $22.1 million. 

The sequel, costing $20 million, enjoyed a 39 per cent raise on that of Saturday with nearly 60 per cent of the audience under the age of 18. The success of Rodrick Rules, about a middle school boy and his brother, almost guarantees that Fox 2000 will make a triquel.

Sucker Punch, costing at least $75 million to produce, was co-financed by Warners and Legendary Pictures. Internally, Warners had expected the fanboy pic -- about a rough-and-tumble group of girls trying to escape from a mental institution -- to clear $20 million.

Sucker Punch‘s Imax runs set records. Playing in 229 Imax locations, the movie grossed $4 million for the large format exhibitor, or 21 per cent of the opening weekend gross. That’s the biggest share ever for a 2-D release in Imax.

Overseas, the film grossed $7.4 million from 2,145 screens in 23 markets, putting its worldwide bow at $26.4 million.