Box Office: 'Lego Movie' Crushes Competition With $60 Million-Plus Holiday
Cementing its blockbuster status, The Lego Movie easily remained at No. 1 in its second outing, grossing an outstanding $48.8 million for the three-day weekend.
Valentine's Day and Presidents Day holiday after Valentine's Day, which debuted to $63.1 million in 2010. Through Monday, Lego's North American total could be $145 million.
Internationally, the 3D animated film is likewise a master builder, grossing $27.7 million for the weekend from 42 markets. Through Sunday, the movie's foreign total is $51.2 million. Lego opened No. 1 in the U.K., earning a massive $13.4 million.
Among the weekend's four new entries -- including three 1980s remakes -- Sony's About Last Night is faring the best, thanks to Kevin Hart's rising star status. The Screen Gems title, targeting sweethearts celebrating Valentine's Day, took in $27 million for the three-day weekend, putting it on course for a four-day opening of $30.2 million.
Thanks in large part to Lego and About Last Night, holiday box office revenue was up nearly 30 percent from last year, when the top earner was A Good Day to Die Hard ($28.6 million). The bump was all the more impressive considering more dismal weather on the East Coast and in other parts of the country.
About Last Night, starring African-American actors this time and nabbing an A- CinemaScore, is a remake of the 1986 film starring Brat Pack members Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. Hart -- who is still in theaters with hit Ride Along -- stars opposite Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant. Steve Pink directed the film, about two couples who hook up at a bar.
MGM and Sony's RoboCop reboot came in No. 3 for the weekend after opening on Wednesday. The $100 million sci-fi epic took in $21.5 million for the three-day weekend for a projected four-day gross of $25 million. That puts RoboCop's six-day debut at $30 million, a lackluster start for the event title.
RoboCop has earned $70 million overseas, including a weekend tally of $35 million (the movie topped the weekend foreign chart). Sony insiders hope RoboCop will ultimately earn $200 million internationally, where it has yet to open in China, Brazil and Japan.
Targeting males, RoboCop was directed by Jose Padilha and stars Joel Kinnaman in the title role. It opens 27 years after Paul Verhoeven's original debuted, and also stars Abbie Cornish, Michael Keaton, Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson.
George Clooney's The Monuments Men enjoyed a nice hold in its second weekend, grossing $15 million for the three-day weekend and coming in No. 4. The star-studded movie, from Sony and 20th Century Fox, is projected to earn $18 million for the four days, pushing its North American total to $46 million. Making its first foray internationally, Monuments Men grossed $8.9 million from 19 markets, led by the U.K. ($2.9 million).
All told, Sony laid claim to three movies in the top five, led by About Last Night. "Kevin Hart is a force to be reckoned with and the chemistry of the ensemble cast couldn't be better," said Rory Bruer, the studio's distribution chief.
Bruer said RoboCop is a solid performer. "We absolutely believe we will meet our goals with this film," he said.
Universal's Endless Love -- the third 1980s remake -- is holding at No. 5, grossing $13.4 million for the three days. The romantic drama, also benefiting from Valentine's Day, should take in $14.7 million for the four days. Starring Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde, the Universal film is based on the 1981 Franco Zeffirelli film that starred Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt.
While the original Endless Love was panned, it was a solid box-office performer. Moreover, the theme song, by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, became an instant hit and remains a classic. It is also the biggest-selling single of Ross' career. The remake, directed by Shana Feste, earned an A- CinemaScore.
Internationally, Endless Love opened to $3.9 million from 25 markets.
The weekend's fourth new film, Winter's Tale, took in a disappointing $7.8 million for the three days, putting its projected four-day opening at $8.5 million. Adapted from Mark Helprin's novel, Winter's Tale marks the feature directorial debut of writer and producer Akiva Goldsman. The $57 million Warner Bros. film stars Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay and Matt Bomer. It received a B CinemaScore.
Ride Along beat Winter's Tale to come in No. 6, earning $8.8 million for the three days. By the end of Monday, the Ride Along's North American total will stand at $117 million.
Elsewhere, Disney's Frozen crossed the $955 million mark at the global box office, becoming the No. 3 animated title of all time (excluding rereleases).
