Ghosts beat minions

Los Angeles/New York - The low-budget horror flick The Conjuring outran the Despicable Me minions and a racing snail named Turbo to win the weekend box office contest at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

The Conjuring generated $41.5m in ticket sales in its first three days, the highest take among four new films that crowded theatres during the weekend.

Conjuring features Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as a couple who investigate paranormal activity at a Rhode Island farmhouse.

Two-time champion Despicable Me 2, an animated film featuring the voice of Steve Carell, dropped to second place with $25.1m, adding to its blockbuster sales this summer.

Turbo, an animated film about a super-speedy snail with dreams of racing in the Indianapolis 500, took the No 3 slot with sales of $21.5m.