'Thor' expected to pound two rivals on opening weekend

[AP] - "Thor" nailed down the No. 1 spot at the box office again. Paramount's 3-D superhero film starring Chris Hemsworth as Marvel's hammer-toting god of thunder earned $34.5 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Disney's "Oz the Great and Powerful" comes out today in theaters and its expected to be the largest opening weekend at the box office of the year so far.  It won't be that difficult for "Oz" to claim the top spot.

In the first bright spot following a dismal summer season for Hollywood, animated family film "Hotel Transylvania" took in $43 million at the box office, according to early studio estimates, earning the top spot during a weekend of several new releases.

In the first bright spot following a dismal summer season for Hollywood, animated family film "Hotel Transylvania" took in $43 million at the box office, according to early studio estimates, earning the top spot during a weekend of several new releases.

North American film-goers favored the apocalypse over Christmas this weekend as disaster flick "2012" beat Disney's "A Christmas Carol" to top the box office, according to early estimates Sunday.Trend-trackers Exhibitor Relations said the loosely Mayan-inspired tale of the world's end -- replete with computer-generated imagery -- totted up nearly half of all box office receipts in its opening weekend.

"Iron Man 3" blew away the competition at the box office this weekend. Tony Stark's big return to theaters brought in a massive $175.3 million in its debut.

With the box office in a slump this season, Hollywood could use some hits.

The Marvel character film stays No. 1 in its second week.