The video game action-comedy "Free Guy" topped the North American box office in its opening weekend, taking in $28.4 million, figures from trade firm Exhibitor Relations showed Monday. 

The film, which lightheartedly explores the boundary between the virtual and the real, features an anti-hero played by Ryan Reynolds, a man who realizes he is a character in a video game and seeks to take control of his destiny.

"This is a very good opening under difficult conditions. The Delta variant is taking a toll," David A. Gross, who runs consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told AFP, referring to a surge in coronavirus cases. 

The horror feature "Don't Breathe 2," about a game of mass murder perpetuated by a blind veteran, came in second place with $10.6 million in its first weekend. 

In third place was Disney's family adventure film "Jungle Cruise," based on a theme park ride, with $9.1 million for the Friday-Sunday period. 

Right behind it, the biopic about soul queen Aretha Franklin, "Respect" came in fourth with $8.8 million, and rounding out the top five was the supervillain movie "The Suicide Squad," which amassed $7.5 million. 

Here are the rest of the top 10: 

"Old" ($2.4 million) 

"Black Widow" ($1.9 million) 

"Stillwater" ($1.3 million) 

"The Green Knight" ($1.2 million)

"Space Jam: A New Legacy" ($1.1 million)