Superman leaps to front of box office

LOS ANGELES, July 3 (Reuters) ''Superman Returns'' flexed its muscle at Northern American multiplexes, soaring to the top of the weekend box office with 84 million dollars in ticket sales during its first five days, according to studio estimates released.

Warner Bros. Pictures' big-budget comic book adventure, starring newcomer Brandon Routh as the Man of Steel, generated 52 million dollars in receipts Friday through yesterday after its mid-week debut.

''The Devil Wears Prada,'' the 20th Century Fox picture starring Meryl Streep as a tyrannical fashion magazine editor, came in second at the box office with 27 million dollars in revenue in its debut weekend.

Last week's No. 1 film, the Adam Sandler comedy ''Click,'' fell to third place this weekend with 19 million dollars for a 10-day tally to 78 million dollars.

REUTERS SRS KN0945