fast-and-furious-6-poster-slice

Today is like Christmas for box office nerds - giant franchises, an over-packed holiday schedule, all-time records on the line? In my world, it’s about as exciting as it gets. Three major new releases join an already saturated marketplace this weekend – The Hangover Part III, Fast & Furious 6 and the animated Epic. For weeks, box office watchers have wondered how the unusual decision to set two major studio sequels (targeting roughly the same audience) opposite each other would play out. Now its time to open our presents.

The Hangover III got an early start (opening Thursday with an estimated $11.7 million including Wednesday pm and midnight previews), but Fast & Furious 6 will be the undisputed Memorial Day winner. From 3,658 locations, the Universal release took in an estimated $38.2 million. That’s a new record for the 12 year-old franchise, topping the $34.4 million of 2011’s Fast Five. At this point, Fast 6 is expected to take in close to $100 million through Sunday and $119 million for the four-day holiday frame. In contrast, The Hangover III is struggling. Just two years after The Hangover Part II broke records with its $85.9 million opening weekend, its follow-up is expected to earn just $64 million over its first five days. Overall, the 2013 Memorial Day weekend is on track to become the most lucrative of all time, so check back tomorrow for more on this crazy-busy holiday box office.

 Title

Friday

   Total

1.

 Fast & Furious 6

$38,200,000

   $38.2

2.

 The Hangover III

$14,530,000

   $26.2

3.

 Star Trek Into Darkness

$10,200,000

   $119

4.

 Epic

$9,350,000

   $9.3

5.

 Iron Man 3

$5,113,000

   $353.1