Lego Movie tops North American box office with $69.1 million

The Lego Movie topped the North American box office this weekend taking $69.1 million.

George Clooney’s film about Nazi-looted art, The Monuments Men, took $22.7 million.

The critics have not generally been kind to his fact-based tale.

A spokesman for the Sony studio was upbeat about its performance, saying it was “right where we hoped to be”.

The Lego Movie enjoyed the biggest opening of 2014 so far. A sequel is already in development.

Will Ferrell and Liam Neeson are among the voice cast in Warner Brothers’ collaboration with the popular Danish top brand.

The new arrivals at the top of this week’s chart saw last week’s number one film, cop comedy Ride Along, fall down to three.

Disney animation Frozen also fell two places to four, while raunchy rom-com That Awkward Moment dropped down to five.

Teen film Vampire Academy opened poorly in seventh place with a first weekend tally of $4.1 million.

North American box office Top 5:

1. The Lego Movie – $69.1 million

2. The Monuments Men – $22.7 million

3. Ride Along – $9.4 million

4. Frozen – $6.9 million

5. That Awkward Moment – $5.5 million

Source: Rentrak