LOS ANGELES (AP) — Action-packed new releases couldn’t
stack up to 3-D hit "The Lego Movie," which took the No. 1 slot in its
third weekend at the box office.
The Warner Bros. animated film bested Relativity Media’s "3 Days to Kill" and Sony’s
"Pompeii" on their opening weekends.
"The
Lego Movie," featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and
Morgan Freeman, earned $31.5 million, according to studio estimates
Sunday. The domestic total has passed $183 million. Overseas, it grossed
$23.1 million this weekend.
Heading into full-fledged franchise
territory with a sequel set to release in May 2017, "The Lego Movie" is
the highest-grossing film of 2014.
"It’s been really tough for any
of the newcomers to displace ‘Lego,’" said Paul Dergarabedian, senior
media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. "They had such a great
release date that put them in this perfect position to dominate the
marketplace for several weeks. For ‘Lego’ to earn $31 million in its
third weekend, that would be impressive in its first weekend for any
film in the first quarter."
Relativity Media’s crime drama "3 Days
to Kill," starring Kevin Costner and Amber Heard, came in second with
$12.3 million in its first weekend at the multiplex.
"Pompeii,"
Sony’s boiling gladiator drama starring "Game of Thrones" star Kit
Harington, took third place with $10 million. There was a fairly even
gender split for the Constantin-financed film, with the audience
breaking down as 52 percent male and 48 percent female. The film’s slot
in the top five was steered mostly by viewers under 30.
"Pompeii
got savaged by critics," Dergarabedian said. "’3 Days to Kill’ wasn’t
loved by critics either, so you had two films that didn’t have a shot at
taking ‘Lego’ out. But these movies did about what we would expect."
The box office results for "Pompeii" were much better overseas, as the film made $22.8 million
internationally.
In
its second weekend, the Sony and MGM reboot "RoboCop" dropped from
third to fourth with $9.4 million. Starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman
and Michael Keaton, the modernized sci-fi film (the 1987 original
starred Peter Weller as a cop who gains a new robotic body) is down 57
percent from last weekend’s domestic opener. For the second weekend in a
row, the action film performed better overseas with $17.7 million.
"The
time of year that we’re in, the movies just aren’t the critics’
darlings," Dergarabedian said. "These films give people options. But
they won’t necessarily set the world on fire at the box office."
Sony’s
"The Monuments Men," directed by George Clooney, was pushed down to
fifth place from last week’s fourth-place spot with $8.1 million.
Still,
Sony dominated the multiplex with four films in the top 10. "About Last
Night," starring Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Joy Bryant and Regina Hall,
gained $7.4 million in its second weekend after a strong Valentine’s Day
opening. It is down a hefty 71 percent from its opening with a $38.15
million domestic total.
Kevin Hart’s "Ride Along," also starring
Ice Cube, marks another hit for the comedian as it remains in the top 10
for the sixth weekend in a row. The Universal Pictures buddy comedy
earned $4.7 million. It has made more than $123 million domestically
since it opened on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
Because
of its vast success, the studio has secured "Ride Along 2." Tim Story
will be back to direct, while Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi will return to
pen the sequel.
Disney’s "Frozen," locked in at No. 8, refuses to
thaw with $4.4 million over the weekend and $980 million worldwide
during its run. The animated musical is the third-highest grossing
domestic animated release of all-time.
Rounding out the top 10,
Universal’s "Endless Love," starring Alex Pettyfer as the romantic lead
opposite Gabriella Wilde, brought in $4.3 million, while the Colin
Farrell-starring drama "Winter’s Tale" gained $2.1 million.
Next
weekend, the action releases continue as Liam Neeson’s "Non-Stop" hits
theaters. Lupita Nyong’o, nominated for a best supporting Oscar for her
role in "12 Years a Slave," also appears in the film.
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Estimated
ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters,
according to Rentrak. Where available, latest international numbers are
also included.
1."The Lego Movie," $31.5 million ($23.1 million international).
2."3 Days to Kill," $12.3 million.
3."Pompeii," $10 million ($22.8 million international).
4."RoboCop," $9.4 million ($17.7 million international).
5."The Monuments Men," $8.1 million ($13.6 million international).
6."About Last Night," $7.4 million.
7."Ride Along," $4.7 million.
8."Frozen," $4.4 million ($9 million international).
9."Endless Love," $4.3 million ($1.3 million international).
10."Winter’s Tale," $2.1 million ($2.4 million international).
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Estimated
weekend ticket sales Friday through Sunday at international theaters
(excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by
Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:
1. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," $32.8 million.
2. "The Lego Movie," $23.1 million.
3. "Pompeii," $22.8 million.
4. "RoboCop," $17.7 million.
5. "The Monuments Men," $13.6 million.
6. "Frozen," $9 million.
7. "Beijing Love Story," $7.3 million.
8. "12 Years a Slave," $6.4 million.
9. "Mr. Peabody and Sherman," $5.3 million.