As predicted, “The LEGO Movie” demolished the box office this weekend.
The Warner Bros.’ animated film brought in a huge $69.1 million.
That gives it the second-largest opening weekend in February behind 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ.”
Since final numbers won’t be available until later this afternoon, that figure should go up slightly.
The weekend’s other big release, “The Monuments Men” featuring an A-List cast of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett had a strong debut as well.
On the other hand, The Weinstein Company’s teen flick “Vampire Academy” fell flat.
“American Hustle,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and Lionsgate bomb “I, Frankenstein” bowed out of the top ten this week.
Here are this week’s winners and losers in Hollywood:
10. “Labor Day” featuring Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet rounds out the top ten with $3.2 million.
9. “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” fell three spots making $3.6 million. Though the latest movie in the Tom Clancy franchise hasn’t done too well domestically, it picked up overseas to bring in $114 million worldwide.
8. “The Nut Job” falls short of the other animated releases with $3.8 million. The Open Road Films movie has made $58 million and already has a sequel set in place.
7. “Vampire Academy” bombed this weekend making $4.1 million. One of the problems here was that there wasn’t anyone recognizable in the marketing. “Modern Family” actress Sarah Hyland is in the film, but I can’t recall seeing a trailer or one sheet poster that made her presence known.
6. “Lone Survivor” moves down one spot with $5.3 million. The Mark Wahlberg movie has now made $112.6 million at theaters. It hasn’t been released overseas.
5. Teen flicks haven’t been faring well at theaters. “That Awkward Moment” brings in another $5.5 million in week two. Good thing the movie only cost $8 million to produce. The Zac Efron movie has only made $16.8 million at theaters.
4. Disney’s “Frozen” falls two spots with $6.9 million this weekend. That was expected with another kid film out this weekend. However, the Disney flick kept a strong hold in week 12. The movie has now made $913 million worldwide and shows no signs of stopping.
3. “Ride Along” finally comes down from its 3-week reign at the box office making $9.4 million. Kevin Hart’s latest movie has done extremely well for Universal. It’s $107.7 million worldwide haul has made it the top earning movie for the year so far.
2. “The Monuments Men” performed in line with expectations taking in $22.7 million. The World War II movie directed, written, and starring George Clooney was delayed a few months, costing an estimated $70 million.
1. “The LEGO Movie” smashed all expectations this weekend with a huge $69.1 million haul. This time last week, analysts believed the film would have a $40 million weekend. By Friday, that number jumped $20 million. Warner Bros. already announced a sequel for the film which has brought in $87 million worldwide.
