'Identity Thief' Steals Weekend Box Office

Universal

'Identity Thief' Steals Weekend Box Office

The lighthearted comedy Identity Thief -- starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy -- took the No. 1 spot at the box office over the weekend, earning an estimated $36.6 million.

The film -- in which Bateman plays a businessman who goes on a road trip in a bid to track down the woman (McCarthy) who stole his identity -- buried its movie competitors despite a severe winter storm that hit the U.S. Northeast.

PICS: Star Sightings

Last weekend's box office winner, the zombie romance Warm Bodies, fell to second place with $11.5 million, followed by Steven Soderbergh's thriller Side Effects in third place with $10 million.

Rounding out the top five were the Oscar-nominated Silver Linings Playbook, with $6.9 million, followed by the action flick Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, which earned $5.8 million.

VIDEO: Identity Thief Cast Extols Melissa McCarthy