Box office: 'Minions' boasts record $115.2M debut
In another victory for moviegoing in North America, Minions raced to a $115.2 million debut to nab the second-biggest weekend of all time for an animated title, not accounting for inflation.
That includes a $46.2 million Friday, the best opening day in history for an animated film in North America. The victory is all the more sweet, considering Illumination Entertainment and Universal spent $74 million to make the Despicable Me prequel, a relatively modest number for an animated title.
Shrek the Third ($122.5 million) continues to boast the biggest three-day debut of all time, while Minions beat out Toy Story 3 ($110.3 million). Only one other animated film, Shrek 2 ($108 million), has crossed $100 million in its first weekend.
Overseas, where the Illumination Entertainment and Universal Despicable Me prequel began rolling out in select markets two weekends ago, Minions is already a blockbuster, although weekend numbers weren't immediatley available.
In North America, comparisons to Despicable Me 2 are difficult, since the sequel debuted over the long Fourth of July weekend in 2013, earning $143.1 million for the Wednesday-Sunday stretch, including a three-day take of $83.5 million.
The family film follows the minions as they attend Villain-Con in Florida and find a new master in Scarlett Overkill, voiced by Sandra Bullock. She's determined to rule England and soon, the gang all travel to London. The voice cast also includes Pierre Coffin, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan and Geoffrey Rush.
More to come.
