Action Films Duke It Out (LGF, CMCSA, TWX, SNE)

The latest installment of "The Expendables" franchise debuted at number one at weekend box offices around the country. "The Expendables 2" from Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: LGF) hauled in $28.8 million in its first weekend, displacing last week's number one, "The Bourne Legacy," from Universal Pictures, a division of Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA). Universal's Bourne movie brought in $17 million for its second weekend of general release, down 55% from its opening weekend total of $38.1 million.

The weekend openings were on the modest side, with another Universal release, the animated comedy "ParaNorman" raking in $14 million, "The Campaign" from Time Warner Inc.'s (NYSE: TWX) Warner Bros. bringing in $13.4 million, and a Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) remake of "Sparkle" cashing in for $12 million.

Lions Gate's shares are off about 1.4% in early trading this morning to $14.16 in a 52-week range of $6.38 to $16.19. Comcast shares are down 0.2% at $33.94 in a 52-week range of $19.54 to $35.16.

Paul Ausick

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Entertainment Tagged: CMCSA, LGF, SNE, TWX