Disney’s “Monsters University” is the weekend box-office winner, according to studio estimates released Sunday. The animated family film, which reunites stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman and their characters from the 2001 hit “Monsters, Inc.,” debuted in first place with $82 million, beating out swarming zombies in “World War Z” and Superman himself in “Man of Steel.”
“What ‘World War Z’ proves is that all the negative backstory that can be thrown at a movie doesn’t matter if the movie’s good,” said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracker Hollywood.com. “I don’t think the audience cares one lick if they had to reshoot the ending if they like the ending and like the movie.”
“It’s the biggest live-action original opening since ‘Avatar,'” he said. “(It’s) Brad Pitt’s biggest opening ever, and in terms of Paramount’s recent history, it ranks behind ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Transformers’ as the third largest potential franchise opening in the history of the company.”
Warner Bros. “Man of Steel” was third at the box office, adding another $41.2 million to its coffers and bringing its domestic ticket sales over $210 million in just the second week of release.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included.
1. “Monsters University,” $82 million ($54.5 million international).
2. “World War Z,” $66 million ($45.8 million international).
3. “Man of Steel,” $41.2 million ($89 million international).
4. “This Is the End,” $13 million.
5. “Now You See Me,” $7.87 million ($6.6 million international).
6. “Fast & Furious 6,” $4.7 million ($11.2 million international).
7. “The Internship,” $3.43 million ($3.2 million international).
8. “The Purge,” $3.41 million ($1.1 million international).
9. “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” $3 million ($4.9 million international).
10. “Iron Man 3,” $2.2 million ($400,000 international).
Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios.
1. “Man of Steel,” $89 million.
2. “Monsters University,” $54.5 million.
3. “World War Z,” $45.8 million.
4. “After Earth,” $13.4 million.
5. “Fast & Furious 6,” $11.2 million.
6. “The Hangover Part III,” $8.6 million.
7. “Now You See Me,” $6.6 million.
8. “Despicable Me 2,” $6.4 million.
9. “The Great Gatsby,” $5.5 million.
10. “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” $4.9 million.
