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After a record breaking Memorial Day, it looks like the good times are going to continue to roll this weekend thanks to X-Men: First Class.  The Fox/Marvel release had no trouble landing at number one on Friday with an estimated $21 million from 3,641 locations and is projected to earn $53 million through Sunday.  That is more than all four of 2010’s wide releases earned on their post-Memorial Day frame.  In terms of its mutant predecessors, First Class is on par with the $54.4 million the first X-Men took in on its debut in July of 2000 and is also just above the $48.7 million that Batman Begins made in 2005.  Considering that, like the latter, this film attempts to reset a popular franchise with a young, new cast, that is pretty much as it should be.  In terms of the last X-offering, X-Men: First Class will not get near the $85 million that X-Men Origins: Wolverine made in May of 2009, but with 87% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes next to Wolverine’s 37%, I’m sure that’s a discrepancy they can live with.  Details and analysis tomorrow.

Title

Friday

Total

1

X-Men: First Class

$21,000,000

$21

2

The Hangover Part II

$10,460,000

$164.8

3

Kung Fu Panda 2

$6,300,000

$82.4

4

Pirates of the Caribbean 4

$5,087,000

$177.3

5

Bridesmaids

$3,620,000

$98.7