The Lone Ranger is no match for a group of nattering yellow creatures known to film fans as “Minions.”
The western reboot, a P.C. affair driven by the creative team behind the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, is losing the box office battle to a kiddie sequel. And it’s not even close.
Despicable Me 2, starring the voice of Steve Carell and those adorable Minions, is off to a blazing start with an estimated $35 million haul today alone. The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, is expected to bring in $15 million, by comparison.
The Ranger reboot got off to a rocky start early on with the project briefly scrapped before being revived. Now, it must reverse its initial box office figures and score big overseas to make up for its bloated $225 million-plus budget.