‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ breaks US box office records

Transformers gaming contest

Michael Bay and Shia LaBeouf’s final entry in the Transformers film franchise has topped the US box office in its opening weekend.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon has taken an estimated $97.4 million so far, and is expected to break the current domestic four-day record for the Fourth of July weekend held by Spider-Man 2.

Last week’s box office-topping Pixar sequel Cars 2 falls to second place this weekend, taking $25.1 million, followed by Cameron Diaz’s latest comedy Bad Teacher with $14.1 million.

The Tom Hanks-directed Larry Crowne, starring the Castaway actor opposite Julia Roberts, opened with a disappointing $13 million, while romantic comedy Monte Carlo rounded out the top five with $7.6 million.

This week’s US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (-) Transformers: Dark of the Moon – $97,400,000
2. (1) Cars 2 – $25,110,000
3. (2) Bad Teacher – $14,100,000
4. (-) Larry Crowne – $13,000,000
5. (-) Monte Carlo – $7,600,000
6. (4) Super 8 – $7,500,000
7. (3) Green Lantern – $6,270,000
8. (5) Mr. Popper’s Penguins – $5,100,000
9. (8) Bridesmaids – $3,520,000
10. (10) Midnight in Paris – $3,438,000