"The Expendables 2" tops weekend box office

(CBS/AP) Sylvester Stallone and his beefy buddies have muscled their way to the top of the weekend box office.

Stallone's action hero roundup "The Expendables 2" debuted at No. 1 with $28.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. That's down from the $34.8 million start for "The Expendables" two years ago. The film also stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The Lionsgate sequel elbowed out another action tale as Universal's "The Bourne Legacy" fell to No. 2 in its second weekend with $17 million. That was a steep 55 percent drop from its $38.1 million opening weekend, though the movie's domestic total climbed to a solid $69.6 million.

Three other wide releases opened to modest business.

Focus Features' animated comedy "ParaNorman, about a boy leading the fight against zombies that rise from the grave, was No. 3 with $14 million.

Sony's music remake "Sparkle," featuring "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston, was No. 5 with $12 million. The update of the 1976 movie centers on three sisters who form a singing group in the late 1960s.

"Sparkle" was the first movie since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife," for Houston, who died in February. The movie was produced on a small $14 million budget, so it will not be a financial burden to Sony despite its modest earnings.

A star's death often boosts audience interest, as happened with Heath Ledger and the Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" or Michael Jackson and the hit music documentary "Michael Jackson: This Is It."

That did not hold true for "Sparkle," in which Houston had a supporting role as the stern but loving mother of the three singers.