NEWS: Pitch Perfect 2 tops US box office

Pitch Perfect 2 has made an impressive $70.3m (£44.7m) debut at the US box office, surging ahead of George Miller's Mad Max reboot, Fury Road.

The comedy sequel earned more in its first weekend than the $65m that the first film pulled in over the course of its entire US run in cinemas.

Universal's Nick Carpou described the musical sequel's success as "amazing".

Directed by actress Elizabeth Banks, it marks the highest ever opening for a first-time feature film director.

"People loved the first movie and it resonated well beyond that $65m that the first film did," said Carpou, Universal's domestic distribution chief. "To be able to build on the first film and expand its popularity is pretty amazing."

The film sees Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson reprising their original roles, alongside newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, as the fictional a capella singing group The Barden Bellas.

The story sees the Bellas square off against German aca-champions Das Sound Machine in an international singing contest.

COMENTARI: I think that can be a good and funny film because I love the first and I hope that the 2nd is going to be better.