BOX OFFICE: DESPICABLE ME 2 Dominates; THE LONE RANGER Saddles Up For Disappointment
Despicable Me 2 has taken the box office by storm, but The Lone Ranger has indeed put itself on course to be one of the most high profile big budget flops of 2013. Read on for the latest numbers for both of the holiday weekend's big releases.
As expected, Despicable Me 2 has dominated the North American box office this weekend with an expected five-day total of at least $140.5 million. Considering it cost only $76 million to produce, you can pretty much guarantee a third instalment will soon be announced, especially as the animated movie took $94.4 million through Friday in 45 international territories. It's now well on its way to grossing $300 million worldwide by the close of business today. It's broken record in many of those locations, often only being beaten by The Avengers and Iron Man 3 for all-time highest openings. Meanwhile, Disney won't be celebrating this weekend as The Lone Ranger has continued to disappoint, taking only $10.6 million on Friday and a paltry $10.5 million yesterday. That puts it on track for a five-day holiday total of $48.5 million; hardly the result the studio wanted for a big budget tentpole starring Johnny Depp. However, the actor is a big draw overseas and it's possible that his popularity may end up helping it. However, for now, it seems as if The Lone Ranger is the third high profile flop of 2013 behind Sony's After Earth and White House Down.