"Ralph Breaks the Internet" tops U.S. box office, "Aquaman" takes China

In the calm before the Christmas storm at the box office, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" remained No. 1 for the third week, while the upcoming DC Comics superhero film "Aquaman" arrived with a cannonball-sized splash in Chinese theaters.

No new wide releases opened in North American theaters, allowing Disney's animated sequel to again lead domestic ticket sales with $16.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The top six films at the box office were all unchanged. Universal's "The Grinch," still a major draw in its fifth weekend, trailed in second with $15.2 million.

But the weekend's biggest new arrival was in China, where Warner Bros.' "Aquaman" debuted with $93.6 million in ticket sales. That marked a new opening-weekend record for both Warner Bros. and DC in China. Considering the checkered recent history of DC films ("Justice League," ''Suicide Squad"), the big launch in China was a promising sign for the spinoff starring Jason Momoa.

"This is a really solid performance and portends big numbers for North America in two weeks when it opens," said Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters:

1. "Ralph Breaks the Internet," $16.1 million.

3. "Creed II," $10.3 million.

4. "Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald," $6.8 million.

5. "Bohemian Rhapsody," $6 million.

6. "Instant Family," $5.6 million.

7. "Green Book," $3.9 million.

9. "Possession of Hannah Grace," $3.2 million.

10. "Widows," $3.1 million.