Universal’s final instalment in the “Dragon” trilogy is expected to earn US$30 million for the three-day weekend, down 45% from last weekend but still bringing its North American total earnings to nearly US$100 million, Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

The movie, voiced by Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett and F Murray Abraham, recounts the tale of young Hiccup and his dragon Toothless as they go in search of a hidden world reputed to be a dragon’s utopia.

Lionsgate’s release of “A Madea Family Funeral” marks the end of a highly profitable 15-year Madea franchise, according to producer/director Tyler Perry, one of the highest-earning men in the entertainment world.

“Funeral,” with Perry again playing the tough, elderly title character, took in an estimated US$27.1 million, pushing the total earnings of all Madea movies past the half-billion-dollar mark, according to the Box Office Mojo website.

In third place, down one spot from last weekend, was Fox’s “Alita: Battle Angel,” at US$7 million. It now has worldwide earnings of US$350 million. The sci-fi fantasy stars Rosa Salazar as a nearly human cyborg who has lost her memory.

“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” from Warner Bros. placed fourth at US$6.6 million. The animated tale about an apocalyptic toyland features the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Will Arnett.

In fifth place – after the big bounce that only a best-film Oscar can provide – was Universal’s “Green Book,” taking in US$4.7 million in its 16th weekend out. Its total foreign and domestic earnings are just under US$150 million.

The film tells the tale of a celebrated black pianist (played by Mahershala Ali, who won a best-supporting-actor Oscar) and his white driver (Viggo Mortensen, who got a best-actor nomination) as they tour the segregated American South in the 1960s.