Box office: ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ crushes the competition

A near three-hour running time and less than stellar reviews didn’t keep fans away from “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” The fourth installment in the Michael Bay-directed franchise pulled in an estimated $41.6 million in ticket sales on its opening day Friday (the amount includes a robust $8.75 million the film took in Thursday evening).

Analysts were predicting the CGI-infused action flick, which cost approximately $210 million to make, would become the first movie in 2014 to crack $100 million at the box office in its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada. The biggest opening weekend to date this year was posted by “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which collected $95 million its opening weekend.

Internationally, “Transformers” racked up in an estimated $81 million on Friday.

But not every moviegoer was at “Transformers.”

The Channing Tatum-Jonah Hill buddy comedy “22 Jump Street” held on to second place with an estimated $5 million. The comedy has pulled in $129.4 million. “How to Train Your Dragon 2” came in third with an estimated $4.1 million for a total of $112.8 million

Last weekend’s No. 1 film, the comedy “Think Like a Man Too,” dropped to fourth place with an estimated $3.4 million for a total of $41.2 million to date.

“Maleficent” continues to perform, with an estimated $2.5 million and a total of $196.2 million. Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” came in sixth in its second weekend with $2.2 million for a total of $22 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were “The Fault in Our Stars” with an estimated $1.85 million, “Edge of Tomorrow” with $1.6 million and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” with $950,000.

Twitter: @mymackie