Despicable Me 2 Beats Out Two Debuts
In a fairly close three-way race at the box office last weekend, Universal’s Despicable Me 2 was able to hold off both Sony’s Grown Ups 2 and Warner Brothers’ Pacific Rim to remain on top for a second week. The computer animated prequel from Illumination Entertainment grossed $43.89 million for the weekend. That represented a 47 percent decline from its opening weekend. It has grossed a massive $228.38 million through 12 days of release. The total is impressive considering that it was far less expensive than most other high profile computer animated films.
While it couldn’t top Despicable Me 2, Grown Ups 2 was able to outpace Pacific Rim for second. The Adam Sandler led comedy sequel took in $41.51 million. Grown Ups 2 opened 2.5 percent ahead of the $40.51 million start of 2010’s Grown Ups. Pacific Rim had to settle for third place with $37.29 million. The expensive Guillermo del Toro directed sci-fi action film opened soft taking the film’s cost into account.
With Grown Ups 2 and Pacific Rim bringing in a combined $78.8 million, holdovers in general took noticeable hits last weekend. Fox’s The Heat took in $14.00 million to land in fourth. The R-rated comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy fell 43 percent from the previous weekend. The Heat surpassed the $100 million mark on Friday and has now grossed a strong $112.37 million in 17 days.
On the heels of its disappointing start, Disney’s The Lone Ranger tumbled 61 percent and three spots to finish in fifth last weekend with $11.51 million. Last weekend’s hold was especially disappointing given that the film is skewing quite heavily towards older moviegoers (who typically don’t rush out as fast as younger moviegoers). The expensive western starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer has grossed $71.47 million in 12 days, which is below expectations.
Fellow Disney release Monsters University followed in sixth with $10.6 3 million, while Paramount’s World War Z placed in seventh with $9.31 million. Monsters University fell 46 percent from last weekend and World War Z fell 49 percent. The respective 24-day takes for the pair of June blockbusters stand at $237.77 million for Monsters University and at $176.97 million for World War Z.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Despicable Me 2 | $43.9M | $228.4M | 2 |
2 | N/A | Grown Ups 2 | $41.5M | $41.5M | 1 |
3 | N/A | Pacific Rim | $37.3M | $37.3M | 1 |
4 | 3 | The Heat | $14.0M | $112.4M | 3 |
5 | 2 | The Lone Ranger | $11.5M | $71.5M | 2 |
6 | 4 | Monsters University | $10.6M | $237.8M | 4 |
7 | 5 | World War Z | $9.3M | $177.0M | 4 |
8 | 6 | White House Down | $6.2M | $63.0M | 3 |
9 | 7 | Man of Steel | $4.7M | $280.9M | 5 |
10 | 9 | This is the End | $2.9M | $91.6M | 5 |
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.