Luc Besson's science fiction film, "Lucy," overpowered "Hercules" to reign supreme at the week's box office.

The mind-bending movie, which stars actress Scarlett Johansson, raked in a total of US$44 million since it opened on Friday. "Lucy," reportedly made on a US$40 million budget, is expected to turn in more profit when it opens internationally next weekend.

Like Us on Facebook

The film follows Johansson's character, Lucy, a drug mule who consumes a drug that allows her the use of more than 10 percent of her cognitive power. With her newfound ability, Lucy transforms into an evolved warrior who turns the tables on her captors.

Universal Pictures is optimistic that the film will have a better opening at the worldwide box office

"The main reasons for coming to see the film were the story, and then Scarlett. She's very diversified in what she does. Luc brought out the best of her in this movie," said Nikki Rocco, president of Universal Pictures Domestic Distribution.

Meanwhile, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's brawny take on the mythical warrior, Hercules, came in second at the weekend's box office with US$29 million.

The Brett Ratner-directed movie had a net cost of around US$110 million, and Johnson is banking on positive reviews to make "Hercules" a blockbuster when it opens overseas next weekend.

Megan Colligan, Paramount Picture's head of domestic marketing, said the former WWE star is a huge draw for all types of audience.

"He can be very serious and menacing and imposing, and he has this ability to melt it all away, which is why women show up for a movie like this. He has a lot of appeal for kids," Colligan said.

The third spot on the weekend's box office went to "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." The science fiction movie, which is already on its third weekend, raised another US$16.4 million to add to its total income to US$172 million.

TagsLucy, scarlett johansson, Luc Besson, Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, Hercules, dawn of planet of the apes