Ride Along Leads for Third Week in a Row

Universal Pictures’ Ride Along took in $12.04 million last weekend (Jan. 31-Feb. 2) to remain in first place for a third consecutive weekend. The break-out comedy starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube was down 43 percent from the previous weekend, which represents a very solid hold over Super Bowl weekend. Ride Along continues to exceed expectations with a 17-day take of $92.70 million. That leaves the film just $7.302 million away from becoming the first release of 2014 to reach the $100 million domestic milestone.

Ice Cube and Kevin Hart in Ride Along. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Thanks in part to the release of a sing-a-long version of the film on Friday, Frozen took second place with $8.93 million. Disney’s 3D computer animated blockbuster was down 2 percent from the previous weekend, which is an especially impressive hold over Super Bowl weekend. The sing-a-long version of the film appears set to help increase the already tremendous holding power displayed by Frozen throughout its run. The movie has now grossed a massive $359.64 million to date, which leaves the film just $8.43 million away from surpassing the $368.07 million final gross of Despicable Me 2 to become the third highest grossing release of 2013 domestically.

Focus Features’ That Awkward Moment debuted in third place with $8.74 million. The low-budget Zac Efron led comedy opened a bit below expectations and may have been limited a bit by its R rating. The Nut Job placed fourth with $7.28 million. The 3D computer animated film from Open Road was down 40 percent from the previous weekend. With a 17-day take of $49.91 million, The Nut Job is set to clear the $50 million mark. It has outpaced expectations nicely thus far, but could lose a lot of steam next weekend with the unleashing of Warner Bros.’ The Lego Movie on Friday.

Rounding out the top five was Universal’s Lone Survivor with $7.096 million. The Peter Berg directed war film starring Mark Wahlberg surpassed the $100 million domestic mark. Lone Survivor has grossed $104.79 million after 24 days of wide release. The film was down a respectable 45 percent from last weekend, especially when considering that it took a larger direct hit from Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday than other wide releases.

Paramount Pictures’ Labor Day debuted in seventh place with $5.18 million. The Jason Reitman directed drama starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin opened towards the lower end of its very modest pre-release expectations.