Animation ruled the Easter weekend box office, with Blue Sky Studios’ stereoscopic 3D feature Rio repeating as the top film.
Rio, released by Fox, took in an estimated $26.8 million this weekend to bring its total domestic gross to about $81 million. But the film’s real strength is apparent overseas, where it took in an estimated $44 million for the weekend and a total international box office gross of about $202 million. Rio recorded the best third weekend ever in Brazel and Peru and held the No. 1 position in at least 23 markets.
Back in North America, Rio beat out two new live-action features for the top spot: Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family was a close second with a $25.8 million opening, followed by a $17.1 million debut for Water For Elephants.
Fourth place was taken by the Illumination Entertainment film Hop. The film, which mixes CG animation and live-action, took in about $12.5 million for the weekend — enough to cross the $100 million mark domestically. Overseas, the film has grossed about $47 million for a worldwide total after four weekends of release of $147 million.
Rango, meanwhile, slips down to earn about $375,000 in its eighth weekend of release. Rango has earned about $119 million domestic and $115 million overseas for a total of $235 million.
