Box office this year far from awesome
“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” was easily the top ticket-seller in theaters over the weekend, but the film’s $35 million 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 did, despite good reviews. With about a $100 million budget, Warner
Bros.’ “The Lego Movie 2” had been pegged as a dependable, star-studded franchise release sure to kickstart a moribund box office. But after record ticket sales last year, Hollywood’s 2019 has gotten off to such a bad beginning that the movie’s tagline of “Everything is not awesome” is looking more like accurate industry analysis.
Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and Will Ferrell reprise their voice roles in “The Lego Movie 2,” while Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph join the cast. Mike Mitchell directs the movie written by the first film’s writer-directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
Oversaturation could be to blame. Since the 2014 original, which grossed $469 million worldwide, Warner Bros. released two spinoffs: “The Lego Batman Movie” in 2017 and “The Lego Ninjago Movie” later the same year. Feb. 11 birthdays: Actor Conrad Janis is 91. Actress Tina Louise is 81. Musician Sergio Mendes is 78. Actress Catherine Hickland is 63. Actress Jennifer Aniston is 50. Singer D’Angelo is 45. Singer Kelly Rowland is 38. Actor Taylor Lautner is 27.