Selena Gomez has nearly 48 million reasons to celebrate…
Hotel Transylvania 2, which features the 23-year-old as part of the returning voice cast, easily topped the weekend box office, earning an impressive $47.5 million.
Hotel Transylvania 2 takes place seven years after the first film, with the hotel now open to human guests. Mavis (Gomez) and Johnny have a young son named Dennis, whose lack of any vampire abilities worries his grandfather Dracula. When Mavis and Johnny go on a visit to Johnny’s parents, Dracula calls his friends to help him make Dennis a vampire. However, an unexpected visit from Dracula’s old-school human-hating father, Vlad soon turns things upside-down.
Hotel Transylvania 2 also sets a new September record, beating the original “Hotel Transylvania” film’s $42.5 million launch in 2012.
It’s also Gomez’s best opening at the box office, beating out the $45,012,998 earned by Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! in its opening weekend back in March 2008.
The $80 million production got off to a brisk start overseas, outpacing the first film’s results in parts of Latin America.
“It’s on its way to being one of the most beloved franchises of all time,” said Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures president of worldwide distribution.
“There are a lot of stories left to tell,” he added, saying he hoped there would be a third installment. “Adam Sandler and the filmmakers have created an unforgettable animated world that plays to audiences everywhere.”
