Will Ferrell’s box office reputation took another hit as new comedy “The Hangover” dominated his “Land of the Lost” Friday night.
In their respective openings, acclaimed comedy “The Hangover” earned $16.5 million to top Friday’s box office. “Land of the Lost,” which received a meager 32 on Metacritic.com, also failed to strike a significant chord with audiences. It earned $7.2 million to place third, falling significantly behind both “Hangover” and holdover film “Up,” which earned $13.5 million.
Family film “Up” might still end up topping “The Hangover” for the weekend, but the latter definitely proved to be a legitimate comedy smash. The film’s Friday opening was the second highest in history for an R-rated comedy, trailing only the opening of “Sex and the City.” It was the most successful R-rated comedy debut for a film targeting the male demographic.
“My Life in Ruins,” the only other major new release, bombed with $1.1 million.