Box Office Report: 'The Heat' Crushing 'White House Down,' Eyeing $39 Million Debut

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
By Pamela McClintock

HOLLYWOOD---Providing a respite for females weary of male-action tentpoles, Paul Feig's Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy headliner The Heat is off to a stellar start at the Northern American box office for 20th Century Fox, grossing $13.6 million on Friday for a projected $39 million weekend. The Heat marks another major victory for McCarthy and Feig -- who worked together on Bridesmaids -- as well as for Bullock. To date, McCarthy's top opening at the domestic box office is Identity Thief, which debuted earlier this year to $34.6 million. Costing a modest $43 million to produce, the raunchy R-rated comedy stars Bullock as a strict FBI agent who is forced to team up with McCarthy's rough-around-the-edges Boston street cop. Feig's Bridesmaids grossed $26.2 million in its domestic debut in May 2011.  [link] (A&O Rating: ★★★)