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(From L-R) Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn, actress Abigail Spencer, actor James Franco, actresses Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Joey King, Rachel Weisz, actor Zach Braff, producer Joe Roth and director Sam Raimi pose for a picture at the premiere
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Disney's "Oz" prequel scores box office gold
Posted : Sunday, 10 March 2013 12:43PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co's "Oz the Great and Powerful" dominated movie theaters with an estimated $80.3 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales during the weekend, making it the biggest film debut of 2013.

"Oz" stars James Franco as a small-time magician who is whisked to a magical land and mistaken for a wizard. The $200 million, effects-filled movie is a prequel to the 1939 Hollywood classic "The Wizard of Oz."

In the No. 2 spot, adventure film "Jack the Giant Slayer" earned $10 million during its second weekend in theaters, according to studio estimates. Comedy "Identity Thief" starring Melissa McCarthy took third place with $6.3 million.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc, released "Jack the Giant Slayer." "Identity Thief" was distributed by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Andrea Burzynski; Editing by Bill Trott)

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