Cars 2 Gets Checkered Flag at U.S. Box Office

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgDisney*Pixar's CARS 2 received the checkered flag at the U.S. box office for the weekend of June 24-26, 2011. The animated sequel earned $68 million, which was more than the original's $60.1 million opening. The first film went on to gross $462 million worldwide and launch a very lucrative merchandising franchise.

Sony's BAD TEACHER signed up for second with a $31 million debut.

Warner Bros.' GREEN LANTERN swung into third, bringing in another $18.4 million. With vfx from 4DMax, BUF, Gnomon Studios, Hydraulx, Mova, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Peanut FX, Pixel Liberation Front, Pixel Playground, Plowman Craven & Associates, Proof, Rising Sun Pictures, Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI), Stereoscopic FX, Svengali Visual Effects, Trixter Film and i.e. Effects, the DC Comic adaptation has a cume of $89.3 million.

Paramount's SUPER 8 shot into fourth, capturing an additional $12.1 million. With vfx from Industrial Light & Magic, Scanline VFX, Pixomondo, Evil Eye, Base FX and Bad Robot, the Spielberg ode has amassed $95.2 million.

Fox's MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS flapped out another $10.3 million. With vfx from Rhythm and Hues, the family film has total ticket sales of $39.4 million.

Fox's X-MEN: FIRST CLASS arrived in sixth place, lifting an additional $6.6 million. With vfx from 4DMax, Cinedev, Cinesite, Digital Domain, Hydraulx. Luma Pictures, Method Studios, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Persistence of Vision Ent., Proof, Rhythm and Hues, The Senate Visual Effects, The Third Floor, Trixter Film, The Visual Effects Company and Weta Digital, the superhero flick has a cume of $132.8 million.

Warner Bros.' THE HANGOVER PART II laughed up another $5.87 million, raising its cume to $244 million.

Universal's BRIDESMAIDS slipped from seventh to eighth, bringing in another $5.37 million. The comedy has a cume of $146.7 million.

Disney's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES sailed into ninth with $4.7 million. With vfx from BlueBolt, Cinesite, Hirota Paint Industries (HPI), Hydraulx, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Method Studios, CIS Hollywood, Kerner Optical, Mova, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Pixel Liberation Front and Rising Sun Pictures, the international hit has made $229.1 million in the U.S. to date.

Sony Pictures Classics' MIDNIGHT IN PARIS finished up the top ten with $4.48 million. The Woody Allen comedy has earned $28.6 million thus far.

Box office numbers were obtained on boxofficemojo.com.