LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t quite enough to take down Pennywise the clown, but Jennifer Lopez and the scheming strippers of “Hustlers” topped even the high expectations they brought to the weekend box office.

“It: Chapter Two” brought in $40.7 million to keep the top spot in its second week and has earned a total of $153.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The original, the biggest September release ever, had earned more than $200 million at the same point two years ago.

“Hustlers,” riding stellar reviews, film-festival buzz and Oscar talk for Lopez, earned $33.2 million, a record for a film from STX Entertainment, which was launched less than five years ago.

Based on a New York magazine piece, “Hustlers,” written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, tells the true story of a group of New York City strippers who, put out by the recession’s effects on their Wall Street patrons, start a side con that involves drugging their wealthy marks and running up exorbitant credit card bills that they get a cut of.

“Angel Has Fallen,” starring Gerard Butler, was a distant third with $4.4 million, and has brought in $60.4 million in its four weeks of release.

The week’s other new release, “The Goldfinch,” landed with a thud, bringing in just $2.6 million. The adaptation of Donna Tartt’s acclaimed 2013 novel, starring Ansel Elgort, got reviews as dreary as those of “Hustlers” were strong.

Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “It: Chapter Two,” $40.7 million.

2. “Hustlers,” $33.2 million.

3. “Angel Has Fallen,” $4.4 million.

4. “Good Boys,” $4.3 million.

5. “The Lion King,” $3.6 million.

6. “Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw,” $2.8 million.

7. “Overcomer,” $2.7 million.

8. “The Goldfinch,” $2.6 million.

9. “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” $1.9 million.

10. “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” $1.85 million.