The provocative film “Civil War” was a triumph at the North American box office

Alex Garland's provocative “Civil War” didn't just ignite the rhetoric. The film also inspired audiences to go to the movies this weekend when it beat expectations and grossed $25.7 million in ticket sales in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It's the biggest PG-17 release of the year and a record for A24, the studio behind films like “Everything Everywhere at Once” and “Iron Claw.” “Civil War” also knocked “Godzilla x Kong” from first place at the box office. The giant film produced by Warner Bros. First place the past two weekends.

“Civil War” stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny, who play front-line journalists in the near future covering a devastating conflict in the United States and trying to make their way to Washington, D.C. Written by Garland, the mind behind Ex Machina and Annihilation imagines an America where California and Texas unite against a president who has disbanded the FBI and stayed on for a third term.

Although it is entirely fiction, “Civil War” has inspired discussions since the first trailer appeared, extending far beyond the musings of traditional film critics and reviews. This weekend, The New York Times published two editorials related to the film, one written by Stephen Marsh and the other by Michelle Goldberg. Articles have also been published on CNN and Politico.

Here are estimated Friday-Sunday ticket sales at the U.S. and Canadian box offices, according to Comscore.

1- “Civil War” movie: $25.7 million.

2. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” $15.5 million.

3. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” $5.8 million.

4. “Kung Fu Panda 4” 5.5 million.

5. “Dune: Part 2,” 4.3 million.

6. “Ape Man” 4.1 million.

7. “The First Omen” 3.8 million.

8. “The Long Game” 1.4 million.

9. “Shrek 2” $1.4 million.

10. “SUGA – Agust D Tour ‘D-DAY’ The Movie,” $990,881.