‘That Awkward Moment’ Just Behind ‘Ride Along’ at Friday Box Office

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube’s “Ride Along” is heading for a box-office three-peat, after holding off a challenge from the R-rated bro-mantic comedy “That Awkward Moment” on Friday.

Universal’s buddy cop comedy brought in nearly $4 million Friday and is on track for a $12 million third week, which should be good enough for No. 1 on what’s shaping up as a very slow Super Bowl weekend at the box office.

“That Awkward Moment,” which features young stars Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan, was in that same range with a $3.9 million opening day and should wind up at around $10 million for the three days. That’s in line with distributor Focus Features’ projections but a little under where analysts had “Awkward Moment,” the first release from Focus since it absorbed FilmDistrict last fall.

The weekend’s other wide opener, Paramount’s Kate Winslet-Josh Brolin drama “Labor Day,” took in $1.9 million Friday and is looking at seventh place and $5 million for the three days, below expectations that were low to begin with.

There was some good news, provided by some familiar movies.

Disney opened a sing-along version of “Frozen” in 2,057 of its 2,754 theaters and the 3D animated hit blockbuster brought in $2.2 million to finish third Friday, putting it on pace for an $8.5 million in its 11th week. It’s up to $353 million domestically, and more than $815 million worldwide.

Sony’s Best Picture Oscar nominee “American Hustle” added $1.3 million Friday, and the con man comedy should manage around $4.2 million for the three days. That would lift it past the $131 million domestic total of last year’s “Silver Linings Playbook,” and make it director David O. Russell’s biggest box-office hit.

Paramount’s Oscar contender “The Wolf Of Wall Street” did just over $1 million Friday and is on the way to a $3.4 million sixth week. Its domestic total is just over $100 million, making it the fourth of director Martin Scorsese’s movies to manage the feat – and all of them have starred Leonardo DiCaprio. “Shutter Island,” “The Departed” and “The Aviator” are the others.

“Lone Survivor,” Universal’s Afghan War drama starring Mark Wahlberg, should cross the $100 million mark this weekend, its fourth in wide release. It took in $2.3 million Friday and is heading for a $6.8 million three-day total. That put it in fourth place, ahead of “The Nut Job,” on Friday.

Open Road’s animated movie featuring the voice of Will Arnett added $1.7 million Friday and should get a Saturday-Sunday boost from families and come in at around $7.6 million for the three days, which would up its domestic total to nearly $50 million after three weeks.

Paramount’s “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” was sixth Friday with $1.7 million and on course for a $5.4 million third week. The domestic total for the Chris Pine thriller is an underwhelming $35 million, but it has taken in $46 million overseas.