"Expendables 2" led the box office during its first weekend in theaters. The sequel opened on  Aug.17 and grossed $28.8 million by the end of the three-day weekend, topping even "The Bourne Legacy;" the Jeremy Renner-led action thriller grossed $17 million this weekend.

"Expendables 2" stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren and Terry Crews. Stallone also directed, adding "The Hunger Games" star Liam Hemsworth with 1980's action stars Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme to the film's cast. Arnold Schwarzenegger briefly appeared in the first "Expendables" but has a bigger role in the second film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter , although the Stallone-helmed sequel topped the box office for its opening weekend, ticket sales are $6 million less than earnings from the first "Expendables'" during its opening weekend in 2010, which grossed $34.8 million.

"The Bourrne Legacy" came in second place with $17 million. This is the film's second week in theaters and the first in the "Bourne" series to star Renner instead of Matt Damon.

"ParaNorman," the stop-motion flick by Focus Features, came in third place also in its opening weekend with $14 million.

Whitney Houston's "Sparkle" rounded out the top five flicks for the weekend, failing to meet high expectations by earning only $12 million. The film stars Jordin Sparks, who plays the daughter to Houston's character in the Motown Era-themed film. "Sparkle" is Houston's first posthumous project since her death in February of this year.