Opening estimates are in for X-Men: Days of Future Past and it looks like the franchise is on its way to its best debut since 2006.  From 3,996 locations, Days of Future Past brought in an estimated $36 million on Friday, including $8.1 million from Thursday pm previews.  That’s the second-highest opening day this year, behind last Friday’s monster Godzilla launch.  The all-star X-Men sequel is expected to bring in close to $95 million through Sunday, which would put it just under 2014's weekend title holder: Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  In terms of the four-day holiday, Days of Future Past is projected to earn about $113 million.  That would qualify as one of the top five Memorial Day debuts of all time, behind last year’s Fast & Furious 6 and 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand.

The weekend’s other major release, Blended, got off to a disappointing start.  The romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore earned an estimated $4.4 million from 3,555 locations, which suggests that $20 million for the four-day holiday is now out of reach.  We’ll have updates on the holiday box office later this weekend.

 Title

Friday

Total

1.

 X-Men: Days of Future Past

$36,000,000

$36

2.

 Godzilla

$8,840,000

$126.1

3.

 Blended

$4,405,000

$4.4

4.

 Neighbors

$4,200,000

$103.8

5.

 The Amazing Spider-Man 2

$2,000,000

$179.1