Lego Movie Tops Four New Releases

Warner Bros. Studios’ The Lego Movie remained in first place over the Presidents Day holiday weekend (Feb. 14-17) with a four-day take of $62.48 million. That represented the second largest all-time four-day Presidents Day weekend performance; behind only the $63.14 million four-day take of 2010’s Valentine’s Day. The Lego Movie was down just 10 percent from from the previous weekend’s three-day take and has grossed $142.78 million in 11 days. With the aid of strong word of mouth and no new competition for family audiences throughout the rest of February, The Lego Movie should continue to hold up very well going forward. The Lego Movie took in $49.85 million over the three-day frame.

The Lego Movie topped the box office Presidents Day weekend. (Photo: Sony Pictures)

Sony Pictures’ About Last Night was the weekend’s top opener with a four-day take of $27.84 million to place in second. About Last Night was off to a terrific $12.87 million start on Valentine’s Day, but slowed significantly as the holiday weekend went on. Nonetheless, the romantic comedy remake featuring Kevin Hart was still able to perform in line with expectations last weekend and represents the second strong performer for Hart in just over a month joining last month’s Ride Along. Hart will return to theatres again on June 20, when Sony releases Think Like a Man Too. About Last Night took in $25.65 million over the three-day frame.

Fellow Sony release RoboCop placed in third with a four-day take of $25.06 million. Unlike About Last Night and the weekend’s other two new wide releases, RoboCop strengthened as the holiday weekend went on, as the Friday performance for the sci-fi action remake was muted a bit by the film not being the most popular Valentine’s Day option. With that said, the $30.01 million six-day start for RoboCop is nonetheless underwhelming given expectations and the film’s price tag. RoboCop grossed $21.68 million over the three-day weekend.

Universal Pictures’ Endless Love debuted in fifth place with a four-day take of $14.41 million. Like About Last Night, Endless Love was strong out of the gate on Valentine’s Day with $7.43 million, but slowed significantly as the holiday weekend went on. The PG-13 rated romantic drama remake appealed to teenage girls, but didn’t have much appeal outside of that demo. Endless Love took in $13.31 million over the three-day frame.

Performing far poorer last weekend, especially with price tags in mind, was Winter’s Tale. Warner’s romantic drama starring Colin Farrell debuted in eighth place with a very disappointing four-day start of just $8.01 million. Highly negative reviews helped kill whatever potential the film may have had with adult audiences as a Valentine’s Day option. Like About Last Night and Endless Love, Winter’s Tale also held up poorly as the holiday weekend went on. Winter’s Tale took in $7.29 million over the three-day frame.

Sony’s The Monuments Men held up well in its second weekend of release to claim fourth with a four-day gross of $17.91 million. The George Clooney directed World War II film was down 19 percent from the previous weekend’s three-day start. The film may have received an added boost last weekend from adult moviegoers who decided against seeing Winter’s Tale. The Monuments Men has grossed $46.58 million through 11 days of release, which is on the high end of expectations. The film took in $15.48 million over the three-day frame.

Mark Heckathorn

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.