'Despicable Me 2' routs 'Lone Ranger' at box-office

"Despicable Me 2," a sequel to the 2010 animated blockbuster, crushed its competition at the box office over the July 4 weekend, industry figures showed Monday. The comedy, starring villain-turned-doting-father Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) and his adorable little yellow minions, was the biggest attraction by far bringing in an impressive $83.5 million (RM267 million) from Friday through Sunday, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said. But for the long holiday weekend from its July 2 premiere to date, it already has earned $142 million (RM455 million), figures showed. The film, made in France by Universal, brought in more than double the 3-day weekend earnings of its closest rival, "The Lone Ranger." Another new release, the film starring Johnny Depp as the masked lawman's iconic sidekick Tonto debuted with $29.2 million (RM93.6 million) from Friday, Exhibitor said. Its long weekend figure was $48.7 million (RM156 million). Third place went to buddy flick "The Heat" starring Sandra Bullock as a talented but haughty FBI agent and Melissa McCarthy as a rough-and-ready Boston cop, with $24.8 million (RM79 million). "Monsters University," a prequel to Pixar's 2001 hit "Monsters, Inc.," dropped to fourth place after two weeks in number one, with $19.7 million (RM63 million). The animated movie that tells how monster buddies Mike and Sulley became friends and honed their scaring skills has earned $216.3 million (RM692 million) since it opened in the US three weeks ago. "World War Z," starring Brad Pitt as a former UN investigator trying to save the world from a zombie invasion, took in $18.4 (RM58 million), good enough for fifth place. Next was Roland Emmerich's "White House Down," about a paramilitary group that tries to seize the White House. It garnered $13.5 million (RM43 million) in its second week. "Man of Steel," the Superman reboot starring Henry Cavill, dropped to seventh place, with $11.4 million (RM35 million), and a total of $271 million (RM868 million) over four weeks. Another newcomer, "Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain," featuring material from a Madison Square Garden performance by the stand-up comedian, opened with $10.1 million (RM32 million), for eighth place. "This is the End," about a group of friends invited to a party who become witnesses to the Apocalypse, was in ninth place with $5.9 million (RM18.9 million). Rounding out the top ten, "Now You See Me," about an FBI agent and an Interpol detective who hunt down a team of bank-robbing illusionists, earned $2.9 million (RM9.2 million).