HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — There was plenty of love for Valentine’s Day as the star-studded film had a $52.4 million debut to easily top the weekend box office, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
The Garry Marshall-directed romance flick is on pace to shatter the Presidents Day weekend record of $52 million set by Ghost Rider over the four-day holiday weekend in 2007. The film’s all-star ensemble cast includes Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts and Taylor Swift.
Two other films, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief ($31.1 million) and The Wolfman ($30.6 million), also enjoyed strong debuts, finished second and third, respectively.
Avatar slipped to fourth place but still managed to raise its record-breaking worldwide total to $2.35 billion.
Watch: Valentine’s Day Cast Interviews
Gallery: Valentine’s Day Movie Premiere Red Carpet Photos
Weekend Box Office
1. Valentine’s Day, $52.4 million.
2. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, $31.1 million.
3. The Wolfman, $30.6 million.
4. Avatar, $22 million.
5. Dear John, $15.3 million.
6. The Tooth Fairy, $5.6 million.
7. From Paris With Love, $4.7 million.
8. Edge of Darkness, $4.6 million.
9. Crazy Heart, $4 million.
10. When in Rome, $3.4 million.
