"Guardians of the Galaxy," which has collected $419 million worldwide since it opened on Aug. 1, had domestic ticket sales of $24.7 million, according to estimates from tracking firm Rentrak.
"Let's Be Cops," an R-rated action comedy starring Jake Johnson and Daman Wayans Jr. pretending to be Los Angeles police officers, collected $17.7 million to open in third place, ahead of another newcomer, action film "The Expendables 3," which took in $16.2 million and stars Sylvester Stallone.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," a reboot of the series that began in 1980s comic books, stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett and Whoopi Goldberg. Special effects-loving producer Michael Bay oversaw the film, which cost an estimated $125 million to make.
The hit film added another $25.6 million from international markets for a global total of $185 million, according to Paramount Pictures, the Viacom Inc unit that released it.
The "Turtles" movie features a fictional team of four anthropomorphic teenage turtles who were trained in martial arts. From their home in the storm sewers of New York City, they battle petty criminals and others to protect society.
"Guardians of the Galaxy," the latest film distributed by Walt Disney Co based on its stable of Marvel characters, stars Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana as galactic warriors who lead a rag-tag band of heroes including a talking raccoon and a human-like tree.