Movie tops field with $69.1 million debut
By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --“The Lego Movie” clicked with moviegoers, assembling an exceptional $69.1 million debut at the weekend box office, according to studio estimates.
The better-than-expected result made the Warner Bros. collaboration with the Danish toy company easily the biggest hit of the year so far. A sequel is already in development for the 3-D animated film, digitally drawn to mimic a world composed entirely of Lego bricks.
The film has drawn raves from critics. Co-directors and co-writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“21 Jump Street,” ‘’Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”) gave the film a playful tone to capture the whimsy of a child playing in a box of Legos. Characters are largely voiced by comic actors like Will Ferrell and Chris Pratt.
The film marks the biggest animation hit for Warner Bros., a studio that despite popular live-action franchises has struggled to develop animated hits on par with other studios.
“I can’t imagine this not turning into a long-term franchise,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. “This is such a runaway success that Warner Bros is now a major player in the animated genre.”
Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., said the film, made with a production budget of $60 million, resounded because of the popularity of the Lego brand. This is the first feature film for the toy company. Fellow toy-maker Hasbro has seen mixed results since the launch of the “Transformers” franchise, which was followed by “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” and the notorious flop “Battleship.”
George Clooney’s World War II caper “The Monuments Men” opened in second place with $22.7 million. Reviews have been weak for the based-on-a-true-story tale about the mission to retrieve artwork stolen by the Nazis.
The Sony Pictures film was postponed from a Dec. 25 release because, Clooney then said, more time was needed to finish the visual effects. Clooney served as director, co-writer, producer and star on the film.
“The Monuments Men,” based on the nonfiction book by Robert Edsel and Brett Witter, was particularly popular with older moviegoers, with 75 percent of its audience aged 35 and older.
“It’s right where we hoped to be,” said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. “There’s a lot of love for George and the ensemble cast.”
Sliding to third was the cop comedy “Ride Along,” with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. After three straight weeks atop the box office, the Universal film earned $9.4 million.
The Weinstein Co.’s bid for a young adult franchise, “Vampire Academy,” opened poorly with just $4.1 million. The PG-13 film, based on Richelle Mead’s young adult novels, is about mortal vampires at a boarding school.
Before opening in North America next weekend, Sony’s “RoboCop” took in $20.2 million overseas.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Lego Movie,” $69.1 million ($18.1 million international).
2. “The Monuments Men,” $22.7 million.
3. “Ride Along,” $9.4 million.
4. “Frozen,” $6.9 million ($24 million international).
5. “That Awkward Moment,” $5.5 million ($1.1 million international).
6. “Lone Survivor,” $5.3 million ($1 million international).
7. “Vampire Academy,” $4.1 million.
8. “The Nut Job,” $3.8 million.
9. “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” $3.6 million ($5.3 million international).
10. “Labor Day,” $3.2 million.
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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. “Frozen,” $24 million.
2. “The Monkey King,” $21.5 million.
3. “RoboCop,” $20.2 million.
4. “The Wolf of Wall Street,” $19 million.
5. “The Lego Movie,” $18.1 million.
6. “The Man From Macau,” $13 million.
7. “Dad, Where Are We Going,” $12.5 million.
8. “Miss Granny,” $8.3 million.
9. “Viy,” $6.8 million.
10. “12 Years a Slave,” $6.7 million.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More