#BOXOFFICE: “THE LEGO MOVIE” BLOCKS COMPETITION IN RECORD-SETTING $69-MILLION DEBUT

Few can dispute that The Lego Movie was a deserving Winner at the Box Office this weekend, debuting with a record-setting (for an Animated Feature) $69 million from 3,775 theatres for Warner Bros. The 3-D Offering featuring an All-Star Cast of Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Alison Brie, unseats the three-week reign of Ride Along. Critics gave it an outstanding 97% on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, in addition to a coveted A CinemaScore.

Despite being panned by Critics, The Monuments Men from Sony Pictures had enough Starpower to drive Moviegoers to the theatres. The World War II-Dramedy starring George Clooney, John Goodman, Matt Damon and Jean Dujardin earned $22.7 million in its debut after multiple rescheduled release dates, landing it in second spot. Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore, while it mustered 33% from Critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ride Along still continues to perform strong in third with $8.9 million in its fourth week for Universal Pictures, just surpassing the $100-million mark in North America. Disney‘s Frozen is right behind in fourth with $6 million in its twelfth week out amazingly.

That Awkward Moment finds itself in sixth spot in its second week of release for Focus Features/VVS Films, earning $6 million for a total of $16 million grossed thus far domestically.

Vampire Academy debuts in seventh spot for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films with $3.8 million. Critics gave it an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Audiences gave it a forgiving B- CinemaScore.

Labor Day rounds-out the Top Ten with $3 million for Paramount Pictures and likely will be a factor as one of the few Romantic options available for Moviegoers heading into Valentine’s Day.