‘ Lego Movie’ lead builds, No. 1 for third weekend
Action- packed new releases couldn’t stack up to 3D hit “The Lego Movie,” which took the No. 1 slot in its third weekend at the box office.
The Warner Bros. animated film bested Relativity Media’s “3 Days to Kill” and Sony’s “Pompeii” on their opening weekends.
“The Lego Movie,” featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Morgan Freeman, earned $ 31.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The domestic total has passed $ 183 million. Overseas, it grossed $ 23.1 million.
Heading into fullfledged franchise territory with a sequel set to release in May 2017, “The Lego Movie” is the highestgrossing film of 2014.
“It’s been really tough for any of the newcomers to displace ‘ Lego,’ ” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box- office tracker Rentrak. “They had such a great release date that put them in this perfect position to dominate the marketplace for several weeks. For ‘ Lego’ to earn $ 31 million in its third weekend, that would be impressive in its first weekend for any film in the first quarter.”
Relativity Media’s crime drama “3 Days to Kill,” starring Kevin Costner and Amber Heard, came in second with $ 12.3 million in its first weekend at the multiplex.
“Pompeii,” Sony’s boiling gladiator drama starring “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington, took the third- place slot with $ 10 million.