WASHINGTON - It might have scored top of the North American box office, but "Justice League" didn't have the super opening weekend predicted, falling short of expectations with takings of $96 million, according to industry estimates released Monday.

With an all-star cast including Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, "Justice League" - based on the DC Comics superheroes team - sees a mash-up of classic characters fend off the threat of supervillain Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds).

The big-budget Warner Bros. production - which fared better internationally, taking $185 million - was forecast to earn $110 million in North American cinemas, according to Variety.

In at second - earning $27.1 million - was Lionsgate's newly-released "Wonder," according to the box office tracker.

Starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, "Wonder" follows the journey of August Pullman, a young boy with facial deformities, as he enters the fifth grade at a mainstream school for the first time.

After thundering to the top spot last week, "Thor: Ragnarok" slipped into third place in its third weekend in cinemas, taking $21.8 million.

Paramount's "Daddy's Home 2" halved its earnings from last weekend, dropping to fourth place with $14.8 million.

The festive comedy stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as Brad and Dusty, who join forces to give their kids the perfect holiday - an effort challenged when their own fathers show up.

In at fifth was Fox's "Murder on the Orient Express," earning $13.8 million.

The fourth television or cinema adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic detective novel, the murder mystery was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as part of an A-list cast including Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Judi Dench. - AFP