Universal on 'Fast' track to history

Racing pic burns rubber with $30.1 mil Friday

By ANTHONY D'ALESSANDRO

Universal's racing pic, 'Fast & Furious,' nabbed $30.1 million Friday, thanks to original cast members Vin Diesel (left) and Paul Walker.

Universal's "Fast & Furious" had no problem moving into fifth gear at the Friday box office, clocking in a massive $30.1 million and leaving a slew of opening-day records in the dust.

Not only did "Fast & Furious" post the best day for the Universal franchise since its 2001 launch, but the best opening day overall prior to summer and for the month of April. Warner Bros.' "300" previously owned the opening day title prior to May with $28.1 million while Sony-Revolution's "Anger Management" notched an April opening day high with $15.4 million.

"Fast & Furious" also scored opening day career highs for thesps Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Playing at 3,461 sites, "Fast & Furious" outstripped the Friday bows of Diesel's "XXX" ($17.3 million) and Walker's "2 Fast 2 Furious" ($19.7 million) which also doubled as the franchise's top opening day.

The bow of "Fast & Furious'" also marks a heyday for helmer Justin Lin who took over the franchise reins with the 2006 third installment "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift" after achieving cult status as an indie director with the 2002 Asian-American film "Better Luck Tomorrow." "Tokyo Drift" earned $24 million in its first weekend.

When the checkered flag is waved on Sunday, it's quite conceivable that "Fast & Furious" could rival the entire $62.6 million domestic cume of "Tokyo Drift," however fall below the $83.8 million three-day cume accumulated by Newmarket's "Passion of the Christ" after its Wednesday bow. "Passion" currently holds the opening weekend record for a pic opening before the summer season, followed by "300" which made $70.9 million.

Miramax's "Adventureland" directed by Greg Mottola of "Superbad" fame, was the day's second wide release, ranking sixth with $2.16 million off 1,862.

DreamWorks Animation's "Monsters vs. Aliens" released through Paramount took second with $8.9 million off 4,109, repping a 47% decline from its first day and raising its eight-day cume to $82.1 million.

Liongate's "The Haunting in Connecticut" slotted third with $3.6 million from 2,732, down 62%. Pic's domestic box office take currently stands at $31.3 million.

Paramount's laffer "I Love You, Man" grossed $2.73 million in fourth off 2,829, down 31%, and counting $44.1 million in its third Friday.

Nicolas Cage headliner "Knowing" from Summit Releasing took fifth with $2.71 million off 3,323, marking a 41% decline and a domestic B.O. of $52.7 million.

Overture Films' expansion of "Sunshine Cleaning" in its fourth Friday from 167 to 479 engagements surged its Friday-to-Friday B.O. by 59%. Pic generated $575,000 for a running domestic tally of $3.5 million.