Liam Neeson thriller "Taken 2" captured the No. 1 spot on movie box office charts over the weekend with a brawny 50 million U.S. dollars take from theaters in the United States and Canada.

"Taken 2" stars Neeson as a former CIA agent kidnapped during a vacation in Istanbul. The movie added 55 million from some 50 international markets for a global opening of 117 million including Korea where it opened earlier.

The strong debut for "Taken 2" pushed last weekend's winner, family flick "Hotel Transylvania," to second place. The movie about a hotel run by Dracula earned just over 26 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters.

The comedy "Pitch Perfect" snagged the No. 3 slot with 14.7 million. The film about a college all-girls singing group moved up the charts as it expanded nationwide following an impressive limited opening last weekend. The movie stars Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow.

Rounding out the charts, time-travel movie "Looper" earned fourth place with 12 million domestically. Sales for the movie starring Bruce Willis reached 40 million for the two-week run.

Mila Kunis will have to update her resume. The 29-year-old actress was named by "Esquire" magazine as the "Sexiest Woman Alive."