Amy Kaufman
Los Angeles Times (MCT)
Family audiences flocked to the live-action/animated hybrid “Hop” this weekend.

The film, which features the voice of comedian Russell Brand as the teenage son of the Easter Bunny, grossed $38.1 million in ticket sales, according to an estimate from distributor Universal Pictures.

However, despite the fact that the film’s strong opening—the best debut for any movie released this year—far exceeded earlier industry projections, the box office was down a staggering 30 percent compared to the same weekend last year, when “Clash of the Titans” premiered Easter weekend to $61.2 million.
“Hop’s” debut didn’t come close to matching last year’s blockbuster record, and neither did the openings of the two other new films debuting in wide release: “Source Code,” a sci-fi thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, opened to $15.1 million, while “Insidious,” a horror film starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, collected $13.5 million.

All three movies are in theatres right now and although theatres weren’t as busy this year as they were last year these movies should offer a nice break from your studies. Check out your favorite movie and let us know what helped you escape from homework.

Joshua Ballou contributed to this story, and can be reached at [email protected].