Rose Byrne’s new comedy Spy could only laugh its way into second place at the weekend as Mad Max: Road Fury held down top spot at the Australian box office.

Spy, which stars Melissa McCarthy as an unassuming, desk-bound CIA analyst who becomes an unsung hero and Byrne as deadly arms dealer Rayna Boyanov, grossed $3.623 million.

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The comedy was about half a million dollars shy of Mad Max: Road Fury, which took $4.169 million on its second weekend.

As for Aussie comedian Rebel Wilson’s age being increased during the week, her latest movie Pitch Perfect 2 was lowered at the box office.

Now in its third week, the comedy was third with $3.223 million and well ahead of fourth-placed Woman In Gold ($1.084 million).

Still fighting strongly is Avengers: Age Of Ultron ($1.083 million), which was fifth, while the remake of the 1980s horror film Poltergeist ($755,306) was sixth on its opening weekend.

Rounding out the top 10 were A Royal Night Out ($322,792), Tanu Weds Manu Returns ($196,932), Unfriended ($101,907) and rev-head franchise Fast and Furious 7 ($93,530).

TOP 10 FILMS FOR MAY 20-23 WEEKEND:
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (Roadshow) – $4.169 million
2. Spy (Fox) – $3.623 million
3. Pitch Perfect 2 (Universal) – $3.223 million
4. Woman In Gold (Roadshow) – $1.084 million
5. Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Walt Disney) – $1.083 million
6. Poltergeist (Fox) – $755,306
7. A Royal Night Out (Paramount) – $322,792
8. Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Indies) – $196,932
9. Unfriended (Universal) – $101,907
10. Fast and Furious 7 (Universal) – $93,530
(Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia)