Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Ryan Reynolds stars as a masked antihero in 'Deadpool.' 20th Century Fox 
 
 'Deadpool,' starring Ryan Reynolds, is first place in the box office for a second week. (Photo: 20th Century Fox) 
 
 There's no stopping the "Merc with a Mouth." 
 
 Last week's box-office champ Deadpool pulverized the competition once again, snagging another $55 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates from tracking firm comScore. 
 
 The raunchy comic-book film starring Ryan Reynolds as the wise-cracking superhero already has earned $235.4 million in the USA, making it it the sixth highest-grossing R-rated movie ever (The Passion of the Christ holds the record, with $370.8 million in 2004). Deadpoolalso has passed the box-office totals of other recent Marvel characters including Fantastic Four ($56.1 million), Ant-Man ($180.2 million) and X-Men: Days of Future Past ($233.9 million). 
 
 "This is a movie that's on everyone's mind," says comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian, who credits heavy news and social media attention for Deadpool's second-week success. "Everyone is trying to figure this movie out. I don't think anyone expected it to be a blockbuster of this magnitude. Any newcomer to even debut with $55 million in late February is a total winner." 
 
 Meanwhile, Jack Black's Kung Fu Panda 3 continued to show muscle, taking second place with $12.5 million in its fourth weekend ($117.1 million total). The animated comedy benefits from being the only family-targeted entry in the marketplace, although it trails its predecessors Kung Fu Panda ($215.4 million) and Kung Fu Panda 2 ($165.2 million) in overall box office. 
 
 Two newcomers outperformed expectations in their first week out. Risen, which stars Joseph Fiennes as a Roman military officer investigating Jesus' death, started at No. 3 with $11.8 million. In fourth, Sundance Film Festival horror entry The Witch conjured $8.7 million. While Witch was the better reviewed of the two (88% positive reviews on aggregate site RottenTomatoes.com, compared with Risen's 59%), the biblical thriller was a bigger hit with audiences (earning 80% approval from moviegoers, well above Witch's 54%). 
 
 "Faith-based and horror genre films are always going to find an audience," Dergarabedian says. Made for a reported $1 million (The Witch) and $20 million (Risen), both movies are almost guaranteed to be profitable. "If you don't break the budget, you can always make your money back." 
 
 Rounding out the top five, moviegoers continued to make a date with How to Be Single. The R-rated comedy starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson and Leslie Mann pulled $8.2 million in its second week ($31.8 million total). 
 
 Bowing at No. 6, Jesse Owens biopic Race (starring Stephan James) struggled to find its footing. With OK reviews (60% on Rotten Tomatoes), the historical drama brought in an older audience (76% were 25 or older) and managed just $7.3 million. 
 
 Final numbers are expected Monday. 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Typz8I ||||| This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Ryan Reyonlds, left, and Morena Baccarin in a scene from the film, "Deadpool." (Joe Lederer/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. via AP) (Associated Press) 
 
 NEW YORK (AP) — Marvel's R-rated antihero smash "Deadpool" continued to dominate movie theaters over the weekend, earning an estimated $55 million and trouncing a trio of newcomers. 
 
 After pulling in a massive $152.2 million in its President's Day weekend four-day debut, the comic book adaptation from 20th Century Fox starring Ryan Reynolds as a foul-mouthed mercenary again topped the North American box office. Having already grossed $235.4 million domestically, "Deadpool" — made for just $58 million — is likely to become one of the most successful R-rated movies ever. 
 
 Among new releases, the faith-based drama "Risen," starring Joseph Fiennes, debuted with $11.8 million for Sony. A24's Puritan period thriller "The Witch" opened with $8.7 million. The Jesse Owens biopic from Focus Features, "Race," struggled to find its footing with $7.3 million.
– Marvel's R-rated antihero smash Deadpool continued to dominate movie theaters over the weekend, reports the AP, earning an estimated $55 million and trouncing a trio of newcomers. After pulling in a massive $152.2 million in its President's Day weekend four-day debut, the comic book adaptation from 20th Century Fox starring Ryan Reynolds as a foul-mouthed mercenary again topped the North American box office. Having already grossed $235.4 million domestically, Deadpool—made for just $58 million—is likely to become one of the most successful R-rated movies ever. It's already the No. 6 highest grossing R-rated film, and needs about another $135 million to surpass the No. 1, The Passion of the Christ. "This is a movie that's on everyone's mind," a comScore analyst tells USA Today. "Everyone is trying to figure this movie out. I don't think anyone expected it to be a blockbuster of this magnitude. Any newcomer to even debut with $55 million in late February is a total winner." Among new releases, the faith-based drama Risen, starring Joseph Fiennes, debuted with $11.8 million for Sony. A24's Puritan period thriller The Witch opened with $8.7 million. The Jesse Owens biopic from Focus Features, Race, struggled to find its footing with $7.3 million.