Box office dominance proves child’s play for ‘Lego Movie’

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows the character Bad Cop/Good Cop, voiced by Liam Neeson, in a scene from “The Lego Movie.” “The Lego Movie” is expected to take the top spot at the box office in its second weekend. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, file)

LOS ANGELES – “The Lego Movie” notched a second straight week atop the North American box office, earning nearly $49 million this weekend, industry estimates showed on Sunday.

Box office dominance is proving to be child’s play for the Warner Brothers movie, which is based on the popular kids’ toys. It has raked in $129 million since its opening, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said.

“About Last Night,” a romantic comedy starring ubiquitous actor Kevin Hart, took second place in its debut. The film about a lady’s man who falls for a woman even bawdier than he is, had $27 million in ticket sales.

Close behind was a reboot of “Robocop,” which sold $21.5 million in tickets for third place. The update of the 1987 sci-fi film stars Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton.

Fourth place went to “The Monuments Men,” directed by and starring Hollywood leading man George Clooney. The film about a World War II platoon tasked with recovering art masterpieces looted by the Nazis earned $15 million.

“Endless Love,” a movie about teenaged love, debuted in fifth place this Valentine’s Day weekend, with $13.4 million in box office receipts.

In sixth place was “Ride Along,” a police action comedy starring Kevin Hart – his second appearance this weekend in the top 10 movies – and Ice Cube. It earned an estimated $8.8 million.

Seventh place went to the opening this weekend of “Winter’s Tale,” based on the Mark Helprin novel about a tortured time traveler. The film, starring Irish heartthrob Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Eva Marie Saint and Jennifer Connelly, earned $7.8 million.

Disney smash “Frozen,” loosely-based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, was in the eighth spot, earning $5.9 million.

In ninth place was Afghanistan war epic “Lone Survivor,” which took in $4.1 million.

Rounding out the top ten was “That Awkward Moment,” a romantic comedy starring Zac Efron about three friends who pledge to remain single only to fall in love. It sold $3.3 million in tickets.