Following a quite lethargic period, the North American box office was finally fired up by the Coen brothers’ much talked about production “Burn After Reading,” starring superstars Brad Pitt, George Clooney and John Malkovich.

The nutty comedy by the Academy Award-winning filmmakers opened at No. 1 after selling an estimated $19.4 million worth of tickets across the United States and Canada, according to distributor Focus Features.

“Burn After Reading” took in $7 million more than Joel and Ethan Coen’s last box office hit “The Ladykillers,” a comedy released some four years ago, which registered a $12.6 million debut.

Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys,” starring Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard, opened at No. 2, grossing $18 million in ticket sales, while Overture Film’s “Righteous Kill,” whose cast list includes big names such as Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, debuted on the third position, earning $16.5 million. In addition, Picturehouse’s “The Women,” a remake of a 1939 George Cukor comedy-drama, starring Meg Ryan and Annette Bening, claimed only the fourth spot with $10.1 million.

The Christopher Nolan-directed Batman sequel “The Dark Knight” grossed another $4 million, and raised its total box office revenue to $517.7 million, followed by last weekend’s No. 1, “Bangkok Dangerous,” starring Nicolas Cage, which slipped to No. 8 with only $2.4 million.

The Coen brothers’ “Burn After Reading” is the filmmakers’ first release since they won the best picture Academy Award in February for the critically acclaimed Texan drama “No Country For Old Men.”