Box Office RESULTS: MLK WEEKEND

A Big 3-day MLK weekend with box office showing a 30% increase from last year to become second biggest MLK weekend ever with an est. $215.5M take total. Hey, thanks, Universal for giving it a one-two punch (Lone Survivor, $23.2M 3-day). Last night’s estimates for all pictures, including this weekend’s crowning champ, Ride Along, are holding steady, with a 3-day estimate now at $42.1M and a 4-day expected in at $48.1M from most distribs (Universal is still being cautious, saying $47.7M). For more info about Ride Along (the Tim Story directed,  Ice Cube and Kevin Hart starrer), read the updates below the numbers. So nothing much has changed from last night. And will take a look at other Oscar nominated pictures. In the meantime, Open Road Films’ The Nut Job has stored away a tidy $20.5M for the three-day and $26.6M to $27.2M for the 4-day and can only imagine how much more it would have gathered hadFrozen melted some, but Disney’s picture can’t stop itself. Open Road Films is ecstatic, noting that Nut Job is the highest animated opener ever for a non-studio film (bigger than previous record-holder Coraline which opened to $16.8M in the 3-day in 2009). It’s also bigger than than Escape From Planet Earth, Free Birds — both did 15.8M — and Hoodwinked, $12.4M. “We’re over the moon. We knew the picture was terrific and would play well with the young kids and into the teens. What helped us was the evening business,” said Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg. “We knew the picture deserved numbers like this. It’s a testament to our marketing and distribution team, (marketing pres.) Jason Cassidy and (evp distrib.) Elliot Slutzky.” Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is in fourth opening very soft and its worldwide gross expected at $41.6M so far. Don’t see how this film will become profitable. American Hustle got a nice little bump to take 6 and The Wolf of Wall Street in 9th and Her looks to nab the 10 spot.Devil’s Due, well, it’s … ah, never mind. How much will football impact today. It’s a key day for Ride Along, although it’s got a strong female audience on this one so that’s good news for Universal.

1). Ride Along (UNI), 2,663 theaters / $14.5M Fri. / $16.7M Sat. (+16%) / Estimated 3-day Cume: $42.1M / Per screen 3-day: $15,828 / Estimated 4-day Cume: $47.7M to $48.1M / Per screen 4-day:  $18,000 / Total Cume: $48.1M / Wk 1

2). Lone Survivor, (UNI) 2,989 theaters (+114) / $6.6M Fri. / $10.3M Sat. (+55%) / 3-day Cume $23.2M (-39%) / Per screen 3-day: $7,743 / 4-day Cume: $27.5M / Per screen 4-day: $9,191 / Total Gross: $78.3M / Wk 4

3) The Nut Job (OPRD) 3,427 theaters / $4.7M Fri. / $8.7M Sat. (+82%) / 3-day Cume: $20.5M / Per screen 3-day: $5,864 / 4-day Cume: $26.6M / Per screen 4-day: $7,777 / Total Gross:  $26.6M to $27.2M / Wk 1

4). Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PAR) 3,387 theaters / $5.3M Fri. / $6.8M Sat. (+28%) / 3-day Cume: $16.5M / Per screen 3-day: $4,890/ 4-day Cume: $19.4M / Per screen 4-day: $5,741 Total Gross: $19.4M / Wk 1

5). Frozen, (DIS) 2,979 theaters (-260) / $2.5M Fri. / $5.3M Sat. (+110%%) / 3-day Cume: $11.8M (-20%) / Per screen 3-day: $3,968/ 4-day Cume: $16M / Per screen 4-day: $5,371 / Total Gross:  $336.6M / Wk 9

6). American Hustle, (SONY) 2,204 theaters (-425) / $2.8M Fri./ $4.6M Sat. (+63%%) / 3-day Cume: $10.6M (+26%) / 3-day Per screen: $4,744 /4-day Cume: $12.4M to $12.7M / 4-day Per screen: $5,629 / Total Gross: $118.2M / Wk 6

7). Devil’s Due (FOX) 2,544 theaters / $3.4M Fri. / $3M Sat. (-13%)/ 3-day Cume: $8.4M / 3-day Per screen:  $3,308 / 4-day Cume: $9.49M / 4-day Per screen: $3,730 / Total Gross:  $9.5M / Wk1

8). August: Osage County, (TWC) 2,051 theaters (+1146) / $2M Fri.  / $3.4M Sat. (+54%) / 3-day Cume: $7.59M (+6%) / 3-day Per screen: $3,702 / 4-day Cume: $8.8M / 4-day Per screen: $4,419 / Total Gross: $19.7M / Wk 4

9). The Wolf Of Wall Street, (PAR) 1,930theaters (-591) / $2M Fri. / $3.2M Sat. (+60%) / 3-day Cume: $7.3M (+17%) / 3-day Per screen: $3,792 / 4-day Cume: $8.6M / 4-day Per screen: 4,495 / Total Gross: $91.5M / Wk 4

10). Her, (WB) 1,729 theaters (0) / $1.1M Fri. / $1.7M Sat. (+53%) / 3-day Cume: $4M (-25%) / 3-day Per screen: $2,327 / 4-day Cume: $4.7M / 4-day Per screen: 2,753 / Total Gross: $15.7M / Wk 5