In a weekend battle of style vs. big named stars, the winner turned out to be… the movie that was number one last week.
Despicable Me 2 continued it’s box office reign another week, cashing in on 44.7 million in it’s second week of release. The Universal Studios kids film about an ex-super villain (Steve Carell- The Office) raising his three kids while helping a secret agent (Kristen Wiig- SNL) stop a new villain has already topped over the 200 million marker in just two weeks of release.
It stands in sixth place of the highest grossing films of 2014, and only needs another 21 million to top its predecessor.
In second and third place this week are a pair of newly released films. Grown Ups 2 and Pacific Rim. Grown Ups 2, a sequel to the 2010 film, re-teams Adam Sandler (Jack and Jill) with buddies Chris Rock (Madagascar series), Kevin James (Paul Blart), and David Spade (Tommy Boy) as they just go around and do stuff they find funny.
The film debut with an estimated 42.5 million over the weekend despite horrible reviews from critics nationwide and a 7% fresh rating on rottentomatoes.com. This goes to show that Sandler movies are still critic proof no matter what they contain.
Behind it comes Pacific Rim, debuting with an estimated 38.3 million. The action/fantasy/sci-fi film about giant robots fighting giant monsters with the fate of the world hanging in the balance generated good reviews from critics and fans alike. However, due to its content, lack of star power, and any other excuse I can think up, it just wasn’t enough compared to its competition.
With the film’s budget, (a reported 190 million) being so high, and with this opening, unless there’s strong word of mouth, I doubt it will come close to making it’s budget back, as well as being as big of a flop as The Lone Ranger.
Speaking of The Lone Ranger, it drops down to number 5 this week, raking in another 11.1 million (71 million total). The Western/action/comedy starring Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp still can’t seem to match another duo, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.
The Heat continues it’s impressive run, adding another estimated 14 million over the weekend, rounding it’s total past the 100 million marker in only 3 weeks of release. It has already surpassed The Hangover Part 3 domestically and is only 22 million behind Identity Thief as the highest grossing R rated comedy of the year.
Rounding down the bottom half of the top ten is Monsters U in 6th with another 10.6 million. World War Z adds another estimated 9.4 million, drawing it closer to the 200 million marker (177 million domestic). White House Down rakes in 6.15 million, continuing to flop down the chart.
Continuing to surprise on the bottom of the chart is Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain. The film added another estimated 5 million this weekend and for a stand up comedy/documentary film has grossed over 26 million in 2 weeks. Great job for Hart and Co.
Finally, Man of Steel manages to hang onto the top 10 with 4.8 million. Now You See Me, and This is The End were bumped from the top 10 after this week.
# Movie Weekend Gross Total Gross (as of 7/14/13)
1 Despicable Me 2 44.7 M 229 M
2 Grown Ups 2 42.5 M 42.5 M
3 Pacific Rim 38.3 M 38.3 M
4 The Heat 14 M 112.3 M
5 The Lone Ranger 11.1 M 71 M
6 Monsters U 10.6 M 237.7 M
7 World War Z 9.4 M 177 M
8 White House Down 6.15 M 62.9 M
9 Kevin Hart 5 M 26.3 M
10 Man of Steel 4.8 M 280.9 M
Source boxofficemojo.com (note all estimated numbers)