‘Fast & Furious 6’ racing toward $122.2-million 4-day weekend

The latest installment in the “Fast & Furious” franchise proved just that at the box office over the holiday weekend, pulling in an estimated $98.5 million over three days on its way to what’s expected to be a four-day holiday total of about $122.2 million. That’s the biggest first weekend for the six-film franchise and the biggest opening weekend in total dollars ever for a Universal film.

It’s also the second-biggest opening of 2013, behind only “Iron Man 3,” which took in more than $175 million on the first weekend after opening May 3. “Fast & Furious 6” has a global estimate from Friday through Sunday of $275.5 million.

Comfortably behind the crashing motor vehicles of “Fast & Furious” were the crashing motor senses in “The Hangover Part III,” opening with $42.2 million from Friday through Sunday and $52 million including Monday’s projected take, according to box-office figures compiled by Hollywood.com.

PHOTOS: Scenes from ‘Fast & Furious 6’

“Star Trek Into Darkness” held strong in its third weekend of release, adding an additional $38 million to its total through Sunday, and $48 million including the estimated gross for Monday, putting the domestic total since its May 17 arrival at $156.8 million. Hollywood.com’s Paul Deragarabedian characterized its sustained performance, down only 33% from the previous weekend, as “a terrific hold, with IMAX continuing to represent a significant percentage of the picture’s overall box office.”

Rounding out the top five, Fox’s new animated adventure “Epic” started potently with $34.2 million for Friday through Sunday and $44 million through Monday, while “Iron Man 3” took the No. 5 slot with an additional $19.5 million and $24.6 million through Monday, bringing its domestic total to date to $372.7 million.

Compared to this time last year, attendance is down 6.9% and revenue is off about 7.1%.

ALSO:

CHEAT SHEET: Cannes Film Festival 2013

Cannes 2013: James Gray returns to the festival

Cannes 2013: ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color’ wins Palme d’Or

Follow Randy Lewis on Twitter: @RandyLewis2