#BOX OFFICE: “THE PURGE” INVADES BOX OFFICE WITH $35 MILLION OPENING

A huge surprise at the Box Office this weekend as the R-rated Home Invasion-Horror with a tiny budget trumps all!  The Purge from Universal Pictures grosses a shocking $36.3 million in its debut, exceeding all expectations.  More impressively, it is showing only in 2,536 theatres. Critics gave it 41% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes, while Audiences gave it a C CinemaScore. Starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey, the Film  is one of two Films in currently in theatres for Hawke as Romantic-Drama, Before Midnight,  reuniting him a third time with Richard Linklater and Julie Delpy, lands in fifteenth spot also with $585k from only 50 theatres.

Box Office Monster Fast and the Furious 6 continues to perform well in second for Universal Pictures, earning $19.7 million in this its third week, just ahead of Now You See Me in third with $19.5 million, in its second week exceeding expectations.

Reuniting Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, The Internship debuts in fourth spot with $18.1 million for 20th Century Fox. Critics didn’t love the Google-inspired Comedy, earning 41% on the Tomatometer, while earning  a much better B+ CinemaScore.

Animated Feature, Epic, in its third week earns $12.1 million for 20th Century Fox, the only Family-oriented Film in the Top Ten.

Meanwhile, Will & Jaden Smith‘s After Earth finds itself in seventh spot with $11.2 million and The Hangover Part III slips to eighth spot with $7.3 million for Warner Bros.  The Great Gatsby rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.2 million in its fifth week, now grossing over $136 million in North America.

#BOXOFFICE: “FAST 6” MAKES IT A DOUBLE, “NOW YOU SEE ME” DEBUTS AT #2

Not that it was a contest, especially with its eye-popping $98.5 million opening last weekend, but Fast and Furious 6 for a second week regins supreme at the Box Office in North America, earning $34.5 million from 3,686 theatres for Universal Pictures.

Never to be outdone, Now You See Me, the Magic-themed Action-Thriller exceeds expectations, earning a smart $28.1 million from 2,925 theatres, landing it in second spot for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Made for $75 million, the Film stars Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Although Critics weren’t wowed, tallying-in at 45% on the Tomatometer, Audiences responded with a resounding “yes” and an A- CinemaScore.

Will Smith and his Son Jaden team together on Sci-Fi/Adventure, After Earth, debuting in third with $27 million from 3,401 theatres.  This proves a bit troublesome for Sony Pictures which invested $130 million in production costs on the Film.  Critics panned it, giving it a 12% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences thought likewise, although they were far more forgiving with a B CinemaScore.

In the fourth spot this weekend we have a rare two-way tie between Epic, the latest Animated Feature from 20th Century Fox, which in its second week brings-in with $16.4 million alongside Star Trek Into Darkness.  To date, the latter has grossed $181 in North America for Paramount Pictures. The Hangover Part III slips to fifth spot this weekend, earning $15.9 million and a two-week cumulative domestic total of $87.4 million.

Rounding-out the Top Ten this weekend is Mud from Roadside Attractions/eOne Films, earning $1.2 million from only 580 theatres in its sixth week. To date, the Drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, has grossed $16.9 million.  It has earned some super reviews – an almost unheard of 99% on the Tomatometer.

#BOXOFFICE: “FAST & FURIOUS 6” RACES PAST “THE HANGOVER PART III” TO THE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Expectations were high for Fast & Furious 6, but this latest Film in the Franchise is a Monster indeed on an international scale, debuting this weekend with $98.5 million alone in North America from 3,658 theatres. Globally already, it has made an amazing $275.5 million for Universal Pictures. Made for $160 million, it looks well on its way to recouping that money back for Universal Pictures in a – pardon the pun – fast ‘n’ furious manner! Audiences also loved the Film giving it a coveted A CinemaScore and many Critics agreed with 72% at Rotten Tomatoes. With all releases surpassing an expected $300 million at the Box Office this U.S. Memorial Day Weekend, a new Box Office record was established for the Holiday. Combined, all six Films in the Franchise have made $797.4 million domestically.

Debuting in second with $42.4 million this weekend for Warner Bros., is the conclusion to The Wolfpack Trilogy, The Hangover Part III, from 3,555 theatres.  Still solid, this Installment falls short compared to its 2011 Predecessor The Hangover Part II, which debuted with $85.9 million. Although Critics didn’t respond favorably, tallying a 25% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, Audiences seemed to enjoy it with a B CinemaScore. To date, the Series in North America has grossed $574 million.

Following closely behind in third is Star Trek Into Darkness which in its second week of release earns $38 million. In its two-week run, it has grossed $155 million for Paramount Pictures.

Without much choice in terms of Family-oriented Films, Epic opens to a smart $34.2 million for 20th Century Fox in fourth spot.  Starring an interesting array of voices, the Animated Feature boasts a Cast of: Beyoncé, Josh Hutcherson, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, Aziz Ansari, Amanda Seyfried and Christoph Waltz.

Not to be disgraced, Iron Man 3 continues to draw a crowd in fifth spot, now in its third week earning $19.4 million, with a total of $373 in its domestic run to date.  Not far behind is The Great Gatsby which also in its third week out, closes the gap on that Box Office rival with $13.7 million at number six.

Bubbling under, the eagerly-awaited third Film in its Romance Series Before Midnight, opens in only five theatres across the U.S. in Limited Release, earning an impressive $274k.  Torontonians and Vancouverites will have to wait till June 7, 2013 when it gets a release north of the Border.

#FIRSTLOOK: “EPIC” TRAILER STARRING AMANDA SEYFRIED, JOSH HUTCHERSON, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, BEYONCÉ, COLIN FARRELL AND MORE

From the Creators of Ice Age and Rio comes the star-studded Epic from 20th Century Fox. The Animated Feature follows a Teen Girl who finds herself transported into the Forest, where she joins forces with a variety of Characters to save the World. Epic features the voice work of Amanda Seyfried, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Josh Hutcherson, Judah Friedlander, Colin Farrell, Pitbull, Beyoncé, Aziz Ansari and recent double Oscar Winner, Christoph Waltz.

Epic follows a positive new wave of young Female-fronted Animated Action Adventures and the time couldn’t be better with Disney‘s Brave  just winning Animated Feature at the Oscars on Sunday night and going on to gross a massive $535-million worldwide.  Fans already are drawing visual and thematic parallels to The Spiderwick Chronicles and Avatar. And while The Hangover 3 will be catering to an R-Rated Audience, Epic offers Families an option this Victoria Day at the Movies.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

20th Century Fox releases Epic on May 24, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)