The shoot-'em-up action movie '2 Guns' outdrew the competition at the box office this weekend, while the internationalperformance of 'The Smurfs 2' allowed the tiny blue creatures to live another day.

Starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg as a pair of undercover officers hunting down a drug lord, '2 Guns' collected an estimated $27.4 million in the U.S. and Canada from Friday to Sunday. The weekend's other big release, 'The Smurfs 2,' opened in third place with $18.2 million, while 'The Wolverine' dropped 59% in its second week of release but still took the No. 2 spot with $21.7 million.

Two Guns' attracted slightly more women than men and appealed to an older crowd, with 77% 25 years or older. The movie attracted a 'good diverse mix,' said Nikki Rocco, president of domesticdistribution at Comcast Corp.'s CMCSA -0.26% Universal Pictures, with 14% of openingweekend tickets bought by Hispanic moviegoers and 28% by African Americans. The movie was financed by the Emmett/Furla Films production company for $61 million and distributed in the U.S. by Universal Pictures and by eOne in Canada.

'2 Guns' gives Universal its seventh No. 1 opening so far this year and some good news after the July flop 'R.I.P.D.' broke a streak of summer hits that include 'Fast and Furious 6' and 'Despicable Me 2.'

It was a more complicated story for 'The Smurfs 2' from Sony Corp.'s 6758.TO +1.46% Sony Pictures Animation, which proved to be a healthyexport but weak at home.

The animated sequel opened on Wednesday and took in a low $27.8 million in its first five days. 'We're a little disappointed domestically,' said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

But the weak domesticopening for 'The Smurfs 2'