'Despicable Me' Holds Top Spot over Opening Films

By
Universal

The minions drew masses of millions once again this weekend, as Despicable Me 2 maintained the No. 1 spot at the box office this weekend, fending off opening films Grown Ups 2 and Pacific Rim.

The animated sequel, starring Steve Carell as the voice of "Gru," captured an estimated $44.8 million domestic in its second weekend of release to increase its domestic total to over $229 million.


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Meanwhile, Grown Ups 2 finished a close second, taking in $42.5 million for the sequel comedy starring Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and Kevin James.

The film's predecessor, Grown Ups, experienced a nearly identical opening in 2010, taking in $40.5 million (equivalent to $43.2 million today). Grown Ups eventually reaped
$162 million domestic.


Pacific Rim
, directed by Guillermo del Toro, finished slightly below Grown Ups 2 for the No. 3 slot. The sci-fi film, with an estimated $190-million budget, raked in $38.3 million domestic but saw stronger numbers abroad that boosted its worldwide total to $91.3 million.


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Finishing directly below Pacific Rim was the comedy The Heat, which crossed the $100-million domestic mark with a steady $14 million in its third weekend of release.

As blockbusters Monsters University (6th: $10.6 million, $237.8 million), World War Z (7th: $9.4 million, $177 million), and Superman flick Man of Steel (10th: $4.8 million, $281 million) continue to flourish, all eyes remain on the highly anticipated films that are shaping up to be box-office flops.


The Lone Ranger
, starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, gathered a meager $11.1 million domestic in its second weekend of release, inching its domestic total to $71.1 million. At its current worldwide total ($119.1 million), the film is nearly $100 million away from covering its $215-million budget.


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White House Down
also experienced paltry patronage in its third weekend with a mere $6.2 million. The Channing Tatum-Jamie Foxx flick's current worldwide total of $82.6 million also positions it nearly $100 million away from covering its budget.