'Big Hero 6' wins battle with 'Interstellar' to lead U.S. box office

Directors Don Hall (L) and Chris Williams attend the premiere of the film "Big Hero 6" in Los Angeles November 4, 2014. REUTERS/Phil McCarten

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Big Hero 6," Walt Disney Co's animated superhero film featuring a flying robot, clocked $56.2 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales to lead the box office this weekend, outdoing director Christopher Nolan's space adventure "Interstellar". "Interstellar," starring Matthew McConaughey, opened on Wednesday and recorded $50 million over the three days from Friday through Sunday, and $52.2 million over its five-day run. "Gone Girl," director David Fincher's hit starring Ben Affleck as a husband accused of murdering his wife, was third with $6.1 million in ticket sales, according to estimates from tracking firm Rentrak. It has taken in more than $145 million since opening on Oct. 3. "Interstellar," was distributed by Paramount, a unit of Viacom. Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of Twenty-First Century Fox, released "Gone Girl". (Reporting By Ronald Grover and Chris Michaud; Editing by Susan Fenton)