'The LEGO Movie' is Set to Become a Monster Hit This Weekend

This Toy Story is Poised to Build a Huge Audience

If anyone doubted the appeal and box office prowess of the first-ever full-length theatrical LEGO adventure, The LEGO Movie, then they could be in for a blockbuster of a surprise. The PG-rated 3D computer animated film is tracking extremely well and could see a haul of $40-$45 million making it the highest opening weekend for A movie so far this year. It doesn't hurt to have the highly marketed feature on 3,650 theaters including higher priced 3D showings. The buzz by movie goers online has helped ratchet up anticipation with many noting that their children keep asking to see the movie. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive with it reaching "Certified Fresh" status on Rotten Tomatoes with a score 98%. Fandango pre-sales are higher than any other animated movie behind only Toy Story 3. 

There doesn't seem to be much competition for the film either considering that the highest profile debuting movie, The Monuments Men, directed by and starring George Clooney along with a star-studded cast is tracking well with adults but reviews have been poor and the reigning three week box office champ, Ride Along, should be losing steam. The LEGO Movie has the benefit of appealing to kids and adults with the writing and directing duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street) behind the wheel. 

Here are what some critics are saying:

It's the smartest, funniest and most dazzlingly inventive children's movie to come along in years. - Newsday

 Lord and Miller don't sink into cynicism. Their computer animation embraces the retro look and feel of the toys to both ingenious and adorable effect. - New York Daily Times

Pop-culture jokes ricochet off the heads of younger viewers to tickle the world-weary adults in the audience, with just enough sentimental goo applied at the end to unite the generations. Parents will dab their eyes while the kids roll theirs. - New York Times

It's fast and original, it's conceptually audacious, it's visually astonishing, and it's 10 times more clever and smart and funny than it needed to be. Here, at last, is an animated comedy that never stops surprising you. - Entertainment Weekly

 Take the kids to The LEGO Movie - the funniest, cleverest, most exhaustingly exhilarating animated feature in ages - then leave them to play with their toys and see it again for your own wicked amusement. - TIME Magazine

 It's safe to say The LEGO Movie is a good bet this weekend whether you have kids or not. Will you be seeing it?