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Lego Movie made by Australian studio clicks with the US box office Lego Movie made by Australian studio clicks with the US box office
(7 months later)
The Lego Movie, an animated film shot in Australia, has made US$69.1m (A$77m) in its opening weekend at the US box office, February’s second biggest opening, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Lego Movie, an animated film shot in Australia, has made US$69.1m (A$77m) in its opening weekend at the US box office, February’s second biggest opening, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The film was made by the Sydney-based digital-effects studio Animal Logic over the past two years for producers Warner Bros and Village Roadshow. The film was made by the Sydney-based digital-effects studio Animal Logic over the past two years for producers Warner Bros and Village Roadshow.
Its chief executive, Zareh Nalbandian, said: “There were genuine challenges as to how you make an emotive, fun movie with Lego characters but still keep the authenticity.Its chief executive, Zareh Nalbandian, said: “There were genuine challenges as to how you make an emotive, fun movie with Lego characters but still keep the authenticity.
“It just reinforces our story and it’s worth saying we do create amazing content in Australia and sometimes Australians don’t even realise what we do here.“It just reinforces our story and it’s worth saying we do create amazing content in Australia and sometimes Australians don’t even realise what we do here.
“It’s a credit to the artistry and ambition of Australian filmmakers and I do feel like it shows the opportunity and promise for the industry to make content for the world.”“It’s a credit to the artistry and ambition of Australian filmmakers and I do feel like it shows the opportunity and promise for the industry to make content for the world.”
The film features Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), an ordinary “blockhead”, who is mistaken for a master builder – an anarchic construction expert capable of working at great speed on any design in the Lego universe, even the ones that need adult supervision.The film features Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), an ordinary “blockhead”, who is mistaken for a master builder – an anarchic construction expert capable of working at great speed on any design in the Lego universe, even the ones that need adult supervision.
Meanwhile, the evil Lego tyrant President Business (Will Ferrell) is plotting to glue the world together. Emmet, with fellow pieces voiced by Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks and Jonah Hill, must click in place a plan to stop him.Meanwhile, the evil Lego tyrant President Business (Will Ferrell) is plotting to glue the world together. Emmet, with fellow pieces voiced by Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks and Jonah Hill, must click in place a plan to stop him.
The Hollywood Reporter said the success of the film had become an “instant franchise”, meaning more animated work could be brought to Australia.The Hollywood Reporter said the success of the film had become an “instant franchise”, meaning more animated work could be brought to Australia.
The movie has achieved the biggest opening weekend this year. It builds on the success of last year’s Frozen (US$67.3m) and Despicable Me 2 (US$83.5m) to suggest that children’s animation is still a huge market for Hollywood studios.The movie has achieved the biggest opening weekend this year. It builds on the success of last year’s Frozen (US$67.3m) and Despicable Me 2 (US$83.5m) to suggest that children’s animation is still a huge market for Hollywood studios.
A breakdown of the film’s audience, though, suggests it’s not just kids and their parents heading to the cinemas: 59% of the weekend’s viewers were over 18, and males made up 55% of the audience.A breakdown of the film’s audience, though, suggests it’s not just kids and their parents heading to the cinemas: 59% of the weekend’s viewers were over 18, and males made up 55% of the audience.
The Lego Movie is released in Australia on April 3.The Lego Movie is released in Australia on April 3.