LOS ANGELES — “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” is taking charge at the box office.

Starring Forest Whitaker as a longtime White House butler and Oprah Winfrey as his boozy wife, the biopic debuted in the top spot with $25 million, according to studio estimates yesterday.

The comedy “We’re the Millers,” held on to second place with $17.78 million, while last week’s No. 1, “Elysium,” dropped to third, with $13.6 million.