'Limitless' reaches heights of N. America box office

Mystery thriller "Limitless," starring Bradley Cooper as an author who taps his full brain potential after sampling a revolutionary new drug, topped the North American weekend box office, preliminary data showed Sunday.

The darkly comic film benefited from a charismatic lead actor in Cooper, of 2009 smash hit "The Hangover," to make $19 million in its debut weekend, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

In second place was Paramount's eccentric animated film "Rango," with the voice talent of Johnny Depp in a tale about a chameleon who becomes sheriff to clean up the town of Dirt, had $15.3 million in ticket sales.

Slipping from the top spot to third was "Battle: Los Angeles," which tells the story of a unit of US Marines fighting invading aliens. The film took in $14.6 million across North America.

The Matthew McConaughey-starring drama "The Lincoln Lawyer" debuted in the fourth spot, with $13.4 million, while British comic star Simon Pegg's science fiction romp "Paul" took $13.1 million, also in its opening weekend.

In sixth was "Red Riding Hood," a gothic retelling of the classic fairy tale, starring Amanda Seyfried as a strong-willed teenager in a love triangle, had $7.2 million in sales as slid three spots in its second weekend.

Thriller "The Adjustment Bureau" had $5.9 million in takings for the seventh spot, while Disney's "Mars Needs Moms!" slipped three slots for this weekend's number eight with $5.3 million in estimated sales.

Ninth place went to critically panned teen romance flick "Beastly" with $3.2 million, ahead of comedy "Hall Pass" with $2.6 million.