The Lego Movie has emerged as the weekend's most popular film, having opened last Friday in the USA to a promising $17.1 million and surpassing expectations with a total weekend box office gross of $69.1 millon (via Box Office Mojo).

The Lego Movie
'The Lego Movie' Dominated The Weekend Box Office.

The animated comedy, which is based on the well-loved Lego toys, will see its premiere across the world this month but if the US excitement is anything to judge by, it's only going to get huger. With plenty of in-jokes for Lego lovers, a genuinely inspired storyline with lots of twists and turns, and a stellar cast, The Lego Movie has received a massive thumbs-up from even the snootiest of critics.

Watch The 'The Lego Movie' Trailer:

Chris Pratt stars as Emmet, an ordinary minifigure, who is living a happy but unremarkable life in Lego Land when he is mistaken for the amazing Master Builder by the bearded sage Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) and is enlisted on a mission to save the Lego world from being destroyed by the evil tyrant Lord Business, who is voiced by Will Ferrell.

The Monuments Men
The Eagerly Anticipated 'The Monuments Men' Was Forced To Settle For A Far Second.

In an ordinary weekend, George Clooney's Monuments Men's $22.7 million debut wouldn''t have been too shabby but the second-ranking WWII Drama was left in the dust as The Lego Movie created a massive $47 million rift in box office takings. Despite early weekend predictions, Frozen did not drop out of the top five, meaning Disney's new animated music clings on to the upper echelons of the film charts for a twelfth week, coming in at fourth.

The former number one film, Kevin Hart and Ice Cube's date night cop comedy Ride Along, slipped down to third place this week as the newer releases grabbed attention and Zac Efron's teen comedy bromance That Awkward Moment rounded out the top five.

Frozen
It'll Probably Be Early Summer Before 'Frozen' Gives Up Its Box Office Stronghold!

Though Friday saw Vampire Academy's performance looking fairly respectable, the supernatural romance bombed at the weekend box office, dropping behind Mark Wahlberg's Lone Survivor and only just pipping The Nut Job to claim a shaky seventh place.