Animated sequel Despicable Me 2 is expected to handily beat all of its competitors at the weekend box office, according to early totals and projections.

Despicable Me 2, which includes voice-acting performances from Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove and Kristen Wiig, is expected to make $140 million over the 5-day holiday weekend. The film made $35 million on Wednesday alone and has grossed about $60 million total as of Friday afternoon.

"This was a family weekend," said Gene Del Vecchio, author of Creating Blockbusters. "Kids vote with their requests, parents vote with their dollars, and when those things were combined, they voted for Despicable Me 2."

Disney's The Lone Ranger is the other high-profile release this week, but early estimates project disappointment for the Johnny Depp-Armie Hammer film. The film had only made $19 million as of Friday afternoon and is projected to make about $50 million total over the five-day weekend. The film is a remake of the TV show of the same name that aired over 50 years ago, which according to BoxOfficeMojo could explain why it hasn't been that bankable.

The third new film opening this weekend is Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain. The standup concert documentary has grossed $7.4 million in its first two days and is projected to possibly make up to $29 million over the 5-day weekend. If it debuts that high, it would already become the fourth-highest grossing standup comedy film of all time behind Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip ($36 million), The Original Kings of Comedy ($38 million) and Eddie Murphy Raw ($50 million).

The Heat and Monsters University are expected to hold strong in their second and third weeks, respectively. The Heat made about $12 million total from Wednesday and Thursday, making it a strong contender for third this weekend. Monsters University is also a contender for third with a Wednesday-Thursday gross of $10.5 million.

Watch a trailer for Despicable Me 2:

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