The Hangover: Part II was one of this year’s most highly anticipated films, so it’s no surprise that it climbed straight to the top of the US box office this weekend.
Taking $118m in just four days, the sequel understandably obliterated its predecessor’s opening weekend of $44m, benefiting from an in-built audience and massive buzz.
Director Todd Phillips has already spoken about ideas for a trilogy-capping third Hangover , and with an opening weekend like that, we’re sure the studio will be begging him to fast track it.
Kung Fu Panda 2 didn’t fare quite as well during its opening weekend. Despite positive reviews, it took just $48m – perhaps because all the kiddies’ parents were too busy watching The Hangover: Part II to take them to the cinema.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides held on at number three ($39m), while Bridesmaids dropped to four ($16m) and Thor closed out the top five with $9m.
Fast Five has now been in cinemas for five weeks, and proved staying power in sixth with $6.6m. Meanwhile, Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris jumped into the top 10 during its second week with $1.9m.
The rest of this week’s box office consisted of more low-slugging holdovers, with Jumping The Broom in eighth ($1.9m), Something Borrowed in ninth ($1.8m) and Rio in tenth ($1.7m).