It is a happy Valentine’s Day for Warner Bros. as their new romantic comedy got off to a hot start on Friday with an estimated $14.6 million in ticket sales to kick off President’s Day weekend. If its pace holds through the weekend, $45 million through Sunday and $60 million through Monday is well within reach for Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner and the rest of Valentine’s Day’s huge ensemble cast.
Second place on Friday went to Universal and Joe Johnston’s new The Wolf Man which brought in $9.8 million. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief was hot on the Wolf’s trail with $9.7 million.
The Wolf Man is expected to be surpassed by Percy as Saturday and Sunday play out and more families take in matinee films. Both Percy and The Wolf Man should surpass $20 million through Sunday with ease.
James Cameron’s Avatar brought in $4.5 million on Friday, a 28% drop from a week ago, while Dear John got lost in the shuffle on its second Friday with only $4.1 million and a 70% drop.
Check back tomorrow for the complete weekend box office estimated totals.
