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Remaining a master builder in its second weekend, The Lego Movie ended Valentine’s Day in a tie with new entry About Last Night, but is expected to zoom ahead on Saturday for a possible $59 million-plus finish over the long Presidents Day weekend.
From Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures, Lego Movie took in $13 million on Friday, pushing its domestic total to $93.3 million. The 3D animated movie, enjoying an amazing hold, will cross the $100 million mark sometime on Saturday.
Among the weekend’s four new entries — including three 1980s remakes — Sony’s About Last Night is faring the best, thanks to Kevin Hart‘s rising star status. Fueled by sweethearts looking for something to do on Valentine’s Day, the Screen Gems movie took in $13 million on Friday for a projected four-day opening in the $35 million range.
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About Last Night, starring African-American actors this time and nabbing an A- CinemaScore, is a remake of the 1986 film starring Brat Pack members Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. Hart — who is still in theaters with hit Ride Along — stars opposite Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant. Steve Pink directed the film, about two couples who hook up at a bar.
Universal’s romantic drama Endless Love, also benefiting from Valentine’s Day, opened to $7.3 million on Friday for third-place finish. Starring Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde, the Universal film is based on the 1981 Franco Zeffirelli film that starred Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt.
While the original was panned, it was a solid box-office performer. Moreover, the theme song, by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, became an instant hit and remains a classic. It is also the biggest-selling single of Ross’ career. The remake, directed by Shana Feste, earned an A- CinemaScore.
Endless Love is projected to gross $20.4 million for the four-day weekend, putting it in a close race with Sony and MGM’s RoboCop remake.
RoboCop placed No. 4 Friday, grossing $7 million for a soft three-day total of $11.9 million (the sci-fi action movie opened Wednesday). The pricey $100 million reboot is tracking to gross between $21 million and $22 million for the four-day holiday weekend. Overseas, RoboCop has grossed $34 million through Thursday.
Targeting males, RoboCop was directed by Jose Padilha and stars Joel Kinnaman in the title role. It opens 27 years after Paul Verhoeven‘s original debuted, and also stars Abbie Cornish, Michael Keaton, Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson.
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Holdover The Monuments Men rounded out the top five on Valentine’s Day, declining only 28 percent to $5 million. Directed by George Clooney, the World War II comedy-drama is expected to remain in the No. 5 spot for the weekend with a four-day gross just under $20 million.
The weekend’s fourth new film, Winter’s Tale, took in a disappointing $3.7 million on Friday for a sixth-place finish. Adapted from Mark Helprin‘s novel, the romantic drama marks the feature directorial debut of writer and producer Akiva Goldsman. The $57 million film, starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay and Matt Bomer, is expected to gross between $10 million and $11 million for the four days. Winter’s Tale earned a B CinemaScore.
Ride Along, earning $3.4 million on Friday, could beat Winter’s Tale for the weekend.
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