The Magnificent Seven remake rode the star power of Denzel Washington to an estimated $35 million (£26.9 million) debut, topping North American ticket sales over the weekend.

Vincent D'Onofrio, Martin Sensmeier, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ethan Hawke, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Byung-hun Lee in The Magnificent Seven. (Sony)
Vincent D’Onofrio, Martin Sensmeier, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ethan Hawke, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Byung-hun Lee in The Magnificent Seven (Sony)

Antoine Fuqua’s film is a remake of John Sturges’ 1960 movie, which itself was a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai.

Sony Pictures’ estimate for The Magnificent Seven had the film far ahead of the week’s other new release, Warner Bros’ Storks.

The animated movie, starring Andy Samberg as a baby-delivering stork, opened with $21.8 million (£16.8 million).

In third place was Clint Eastwood’s Sully, which took in $13.8 million (£10.6 million) in its third weekend.

The Magnificent Seven slots in as one of the biggest openings for a Western ever.

The genre-blending Cowboys & Aliens holds the Western record with a $36.4 million (£28 million) debut in 2011.