Russia Box Office: 'Deadpool' Stays No. 1

Three local movies make the top 5 for the first time in weeks.

Fox's Deadpool stayed atop the Russian box office in its second frame, finishing with a huge lead over strong local competitors.

The Ryan Reynolds-starring antihero movie based on the Marvel comic book character took in another $2.9 million for a cume of $17.9 million, according to Fox.

"What attracted Russian audiences was just about the same as what viewers elsewhere in the world liked," Alexander Semenov, publisher and editor of the local trade journal Kinobusiness Today, told The Hollywood Reporter.

According to Semenov, Russian viewers were drawn in by the dynamic sci-fi action plot, complemented with sex, sarcasm and humor.

"Strong language also played a role," he added.

On the weekend when a national holiday, the Defender of the Fatherland Day, was celebrated, three local releases made the top 5 – something that hadn't occurred in weeks.

Alexander Barshak's comedy Den vyborov 2 (Election Day 2) debuted in second place, grossing $1.6 million, according to Kinobusiness Today.

Artem Aksenenko's sports drama Chempiony: Bystreye, vyshe, silneye (Championis: Faster, Higher, Stronger) followed at No. 3 with $735,000.

Kung Fu Panda 3 stayed in the top 5 for a fourth weekend running, as the latest installment in the franchise slipped to fourth place, grossing $482,000 million for a cume of $11.4 million.

Another local movie, Kryaknutye kanikuly (QuackerZ), opened at No. 5 with $384,000.