Fox 2000′s sequel Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules easily won the weekend box office race, grossing a hearty $24.4 million and delivering Fox a new franchise. Warner Bros.’ Sucker Punch wasn’t as lucky, grossing $19 million in a soft start for the femme powered action-fantasy, from director Zack Snyder.

Rodrick Rules, based on the beloved childrens’ book series and playing in 3,167 theaters, came in ahead of the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which opened a year ago to $22.1 million. Its standout performance reinforces the success that family films can enjoy, even while the rest of the box office suffers.

Sucker Punch, costing at least $75 million to produce, was co-financed by Warners and Legendary Pictures. Internally, Warners had expected the fanboy pic — about a rough-and-tumble group of girls trying to escape from a mental institution — to clear $20 million.

Snyder is incredibly important to Warners, having now directed four films for the studio. His 300 was by far the most successful. Next up for the filmmaker: Superman: Man of Steel.

Warners exec vice president of distribution Jeff Goldstein said Snyder’s core followers turned out for Sucker Punch, but beyond that, the film wasn’t as broad as his other movies. The movie opened in 3,033 theaters.

“Sucker Punch was more narrow. But when you are talking about something as broad as Superman: Man of Steel, the support for Snyder will be colossal,” Goldstein said.

Males made up almost 65% of those buying tickets for Sucker Punch, while a majority of the audience was between the ages of 18 and 35. If any key demo was soft, it was teen boys.

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