LOS ANGELES (AFP) - After a three-week reign, the beloved fish Dory's top box office spot has gone to the dogs - literally.

The Secret Life of Pets racked up an impressive US$103.2 million ( S$139 million) in its debut weekend, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations, raking in five times the earnings of its closest competition to nab first place.

It was the third-biggest premiere for an animated film, behind Finding Dory and Minions.

The Illumination-produced comedy centres on the misadventures of two canines unleashed on the streets of New York, featuring the voices of comedian Louis CK and Eric Stonestreet.

The Legend of Tarzan, starring Alexander Skarsgard and Margot Robbie, clung to number two for the second straight week, making US$21.6 million.

After floating on top of the charts since its record-breaking June 8 premiere, Finding Dory sank to third place with US$20.3 million.

The sequel to the 2003 hit Finding Nemo earned US$135.1 million its debut weekend, and experts project the comedy will hit US$1 billion this summer.

Max and Dave Need Wedding Dates about hard-partying brothers searching online for plus-ones opened at US$16.6 million, taking fourth place.

Fifth with US$11.7 million was The Purge: Election Year, a dystopian thriller in which the government has sanctioned an annual night of lawlessness, violence and murder.

Rounding out the top 10 films of the weekend were: - Central Intelligence (US$8.1 million) - Independence Day: Resurgence (US$7.7 million) - The BFG (US$7.6 million) - The Shallows (US$4.8 million) - Sultan (US$2.2 million).