It’s a slow build for Lego Movie 2
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part was easily the top ticketseller in theatres over the weekend, but the film’s $35-million (U.S.) opening failed to stack up to its expected haul, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The animated sequel had been forecast to draw around $50 million.
Instead, it debuted with half the $69 million the 2014 original film did.
With about a $100-million budget, Warner Bros.’ The Lego Movie 2 had been pegged as a dependable, star-studded franchise release sure to kick-start a moribund box office.
But after record ticket sales last year, Hollywood’s 2019 has got off to such a bad beginning that the movie’s tagline of “Everything is not awesome” is looking more like accurate industry analysis.
Paramount’s What Men Want, a loose remake of the 2000 Mel Gibson comedy, debuted with $19 million.
Taraji P. Henson plays a sports agent with the ability to hear men’s thoughts in Adam Shankman’s film, a kind of gender flip from the original.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore: 1. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, $35 million 2. What Men Want, $19 million 3. Cold Pursuit, $10.8 million 4. The Upside, $7.2 million 5. Glass, $6.4 million 6. The Prodigy, $6 million 7. Green Book, $3.6 million 8. Aquaman, $3.3 million 9. Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse, $3 million
10. Miss Bala, $2.7 million.