LOS ANGELES (AP) – Moviegoers could choose violence, sex or family-friendly fare this weekend with three diverse new offerings that all drew healthy numbers at the box office.
“The Lego Batman Movie” took the top spot with $55.6 million, dominating “Fifty Shades Darker,” which attracted $46.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The spinoff of 2014’s “Lego Movie” benefited from good reviews and a lack of competition in the family space, which is expected to help it maintain its pace going into the holiday weekend, when kids are out of school.
A whopping 48 percent of opening weekend audiences was under 25. It also bodes well for Warner Bros.’ next Lego spinoff, “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” set for September.
Audiences were slightly less curious to catch up with the exploits of Christian Grey and Ana Steele the second time around. The sequel didn’t compare to “Fifty Shades of Grey’s” $85.2 million debut in 2015.