'Fast 6' speeds past 'Hangover Part III'
LOS ANGELES — After a lackluster start to the year, the movie industry enjoyed its most robust Memorial Day weekend ever at the box office, with “Fast & Furious 6” speeding to the top spot.
The record-breaking four-day weekend generated estimated receipts of $316 million.
“Over $300 million for Memorial Day weekend has never happened before,” said box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com. “This proves that when you have a great selection of films, audiences will line up at movie theaters in record numbers.”
The sixth installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise debuted at No. 1 with $120 million, making it the biggest opening weekend for a Universal Pictures release, according to Hollywood.com.
Starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, the muscle-car action romp took in an additional $158 million internationally.
“The Hangover Part III,” starring Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms, opened in second place. The final chapter in the Warner Bros. raunchy comedy trilogy collected $51.2 million.
Paramount Pictures’ “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” which opened last week, added $47 million to its domestic ticket sales, landing at No. 3.
Fox’ animated “Epic,” the only nonsequel among the weekend’s five top-grossing films, opened in the fourth spot with $42.6 million.
Now in its fourth week of release, “Iron Man 3” — which had the biggest opening so far this year — hung onto fifth place with $24.4 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com.
1. “Fast & Furious 6,” $120 million
2. “The Hangover Part III,” $51.2 million
3. “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” $47 million
4. “Epic,” $42.6 million
5. “Iron Man 3,” $24.4 million
6. “The Great Gatsby,” $17 million
7. “Mud,” $2.5 million
8. “The Croods,” $1.6 million
9. “42,” $1.6 million
10. “Oblivion,” $1.1 million.
