Saturday update:
Matthew Vaughn's much-anticipated R-rated comic-book adaptation "Kick-Ass" got off to a soft start at 3,065 locations in the U.S. and Canada Friday, taking in $7.5 million.
The Lionsgate-distributed film, pegged to gross around $25 million its first weekend in theaters, might not even clear $20 million by the time the three-day accounting period is finished.
Amid an overall box office that's pacing about 5 percent above the $103.8 million grossed on the same weekend last year, Sony's star-laden "Death at a Funeral" opened in second place with $5.6 million, which puts it on track to meet the low side of its pre-release projections.
In third place in its second weekend of release, Fox's "Date Night" grossed $5.5 million, with the Shawn Levy-directed romantic comedy, which stars Tina Fey and Steve Carell, dropping only 40 percent week to week.
DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" also continues to display legs in fourth place, grossing $4.4 million Friday. Dropping only 38 percent from its third weekend in release, the 3D film will pass the $150 million domestic mark this weekend.
In fifth place, Warner's "Clash of the Titans" dropped 48 percent in its third weekend to $4.3 million -- downright respectable playability for a converted 3D film that, according to DreamWorks head Jeffrey Katzenberg, looks so bad, it's going to turn the world against 3D. The Sam Worthington movie could pass the $130 million mark in North America on Sunday.
Friday's big story, however, remained "Kick-Ass," which Vaughn shot independently for $28 million, and Lionsgate acquired for a price in the mid teens after a bidding war. (Previously, that purchase price had been erroneoulsy reported to be $25 million here at TheWrap and by numerous other outlets.)
A presentation of the film at Comic Con last summer generated momentum that only picked up with Harry Knowles and myriad other fan-site operators lauding the film.
It came late, but there was also the predictable controversy -- predictable in the sense that Chloe Moretz plays a 10-year-old girl who cusses a lot while she enthusiastically kills people -- with high-profile critic Roger Ebert's evisceration of the movie stirring up even more last-minute attention.
But despite ample buzz, a promotional spend that was on the high side for Lionsgate, and decent reviews (77 percent fresh on Rotten Tomomatoes), "Kick-Ass" -- although assured of making money -- will have to display some real playability in order to surpass moderate-success status.
Lionsgate officials note that, although the film didn't open huge in the U.K., its drops have been minimal since its Easter Weekend premiere for Universal in that territory.
Also set to make money after a modest debut, "Death at a Funeral" was fully financed by Screen Gems at a cost of $21 million.
Here's how the top 10 at the domestic box office shaped up Friday:
“Kick-Ass” ($7.5m)
“Death at a Funeral” ($5.6m)
“Date Night” ($5.5m)
“How to Train Your Dragon” ($4.4m)
“Clash of the Titans” ($4.3m)
“The Last Song” ($1.9m)
“Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too ($1.3m)
