BOX OFFICE: 'Lego' Blockbuster Est. $58M to …

OPENING: The Lego Movie (WB), blockbuster expected anywhere from $60M+; The Monuments Men (Sony), around $22M in 2nd position; Vampire Academy (TWC) anemic with $4.5M to $4.8M

Neither sleet nor snow nor Sochi can stop audiences from flocking toThe Lego Movie. It is, as expected, a monster hit - and we're not even into the second day of the weekend. The smartly-written pic from scribe-directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord grossed an estimated $17.5M to $18M on its first day (more than most pictures take in during their opening 3-day weekends) and it looks like it will take in $60M+ - a far cry from the $25.3M the last biggest animated film in Feb. opening to ( Gnomeo and Juliet). Saturday movie going will tell how humongous this movie will get but Warner Bros. was clearly way too conservative in its initial estimates. The studio distributed the 3D animated pic from Village Roadshow, Lin Pictures and Vertigo Entertainment. Congrats to all. Also gotta give kudos, too, to former WB executive Jeff Robinov as this is yet another mega-hit (think Gravity) that he greenlighted. The PG-pic, which received an A Cinemascore seems to be appealing to all demos as hoped. It's also the first full-length film based on the Lego brand. Expect long legs as this film is likely to play and play, and thanks to next weekend's four-day Presidents Day holiday frame, we can expect more of the same in another seven days. The filmmakers are the same ones behind Sony's animated hit Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 1 and 2. Speaking of Sony, George Clooney's The Monuments Men from its Columbia Pics moniker is solidly in second and is likely to bring in about $22M based on a Friday take of about $7M to $7.2M. It received a B+ Cinemascore. The other newcomer this weekend is The Weinstein Co.'s Vampire Academy, which was moved up from Valentine's Day to give it room to breathe but it choked. The vampire romp, which got a B- Cinemascore, looks to suck in only about $4.5M to $4.8M for the three-day based on Friday night estimates. Numbers and positions will likely change early in the AM but here's how it looks tonight:

1). The Lego Movie (WB) 3,775 theaters / $18M Fri. / Est. 3-day Cume: $60M+ / Wk 1

2). The Monuments Men (SONY), 3,083 theaters / $7M to $7.3M Fri. / 3-day Cume: $21.8M to $22.1M/ Wk 1

3). Ride Along (UNI), 2,800 theaters (-67) / $2.6M Fri. / 3-day Cume: $8.6M to $8.8M / Wk 4

4). Frozen (DIS), 2,460 theaters (-294) / $1.4M Fri. / 3-day Cume: $5.8M to $6.1M / Total Est. Cume: $368M / Wk 12

5/6). That Awkward Moment (FOCUS), 2,809 theaters (0) / $1.6M Fri. / 3-day Cume: $5M to $5.2M / Total Est. Cume: $16.5M / Wk 2

Lone Survivor (UNI), 2,869 theaters (-416) / $1.3M to $1.4M Fri. / 3-day Cume: $5M to $5.3M / Total Est. Cume: $112.5M / Wk 7

7). Vampire Academy (TWC), 2,676 theaters / $1.6M Fri. / 3-day Cume: $4.5M to $4.8M / Wk 1

8). The Nut Job (OPRD), 3,004 theaters (-468) / $725K Fri. / 3-day Cume: $2.9M to $3.2M / Total Est. Cume: $54.5M / Wk 4

9). Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PAR), 2,139 theaters (-768) / $900K Fri. / 3-day Cume: $3.1M to $3.3M / Total Est. Cume: $44M / Wk 4

10/11). American Hustle (SONY), 1,640 theaters (-576)/ $740K Fri. / 3-day Cume: $2.6M to $2.9M / Total Est. Cume: $138M / Wk 9

Labor Day (PAR), 2,584 theaters (0)/ $900K Fri. / 3-day Cume: $2.6M to $3.3M / Total Est. Cume: $9.6M /Wk 2