Universal is estimating that Minions, the 3-D prequel to their Despicable Me franchise is heading to an astonishing $120.9M opening weekend. The CG animated flick from Illumination Entertainment marched into 4,301 venues Friday, the most North American venues in Universal's history, and left with $46.2M for the day.

Thus Minions is now vying for the title of the biggest animated opening of all time (not adjusted for inflation). It appears it will surpass 2004's Shrek 2 with $108M ($919.8M worldwide cume), 2010's Toy Story 3 with $110.3M ($1.06B worldwide cume), and even 2007's mammoth Shrek the Third opening with $121.6M ($799M worldwide cume).

Warner Bros. is reporting that The Gallows, their R-rated horror flick, made $4.5M in 2,720 venues for an estimated $10.8M weekend (depending on how the Twitter-sphere treats it).

Focus Features' Self/Less, with Ryan Reynolds and Ben Kingsley, opened in 2,353 venues and made $1.9M on its way to a likely, feeble $5M weekend.



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This Weekend in Past Years:

• 2014 - Weekend Report: 'Apes' Goes Bananas

• 2013 - 'Pacific Rim' Loses to Family Sequels

• 2012 - 'Ice Age' Doesn't Melt in Fourth Outing

• 2011 - 'Harry' Makes History• 2010 - 'Despicable Me' Dominates, 'Predators' Solid But Unspectacular

• 2009 - 'Bruno' Not as Brawny as 'Borat'

• 2008 - 'Hellboy II' Sizzles

• 2007 - 'Harry Potter' Flies with the Phoenix

• 2006 - 'Pirates' Pilfer More Records

• 2005 - 'Charlie,' 'Crashers' Draw Golden Box Office Ticket





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