LOS ANGELES — The audience has spoken, Sacha Baron Cohen: It’s over.

Heralded as a comedic superstar after his raunchy “Borat” became a surprise smash hit in 2006, Mr. Cohen has since delivered rapidly shrinking opening-weekend results, as his core young fan base has grown up and moved on. “Bruno” took in $30.6 million in 2009. “The Dictator” collected $17.4 million in 2012. And over the weekend “The Brothers Grimsby” sold just $3.2 million in tickets — complete rejection.

“Grimsby” (Sony Pictures) cost about $37 million to make. Sony hedged its bets by taking on financing partners like L Star Capital.

“Grimsby,” which has gags about celebrities contracting AIDS and men hiding in an elephant’s vagina, adds to a difficult period for Sony, which last year ousted its movie chief. “Grimsby” was one of the last films left behind by the old regime. “We are disappointed, of course, especially because Sacha worked tirelessly to promote what we think is a very funny movie,” said Rory Bruer, Sony’s president of domestic distribution.

The No. 1 movie at the North American box office was “Zootopia,” a Disney film that, coincidentally, had a writing team that included Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the R-rated “Grimsby.” The animated “Zootopia” took in about $50 million, for a very strong two-week total of $142.6 million, according to comScore, which compiles ticketing data. “Zootopia” has taken in an additional $288.7 million overseas.