Adam Sandler is back! Hotel Transylvania 2, co-starring Selena Gomez, is actor's best opening in 10 years and could be his biggest hit ever

Adam Sandler finally got some good box office news.

The once white hot star has suffered a string of flops including the animated movie Pixels that was dead on arrival when it debuted in July.

But his Hotel Transylvania 2, the sequel to the 2012 animated hit, looks like it's going to set a new record for a September opening, according to Deadline.com.

Huge weekend: Adam Sandler, who's struggled to have a hit for several years, is on target to have one of the biggest movie openings of his career and set a box office record for September with Hotel Transylvania 2

Huge weekend: Adam Sandler, who's struggled to have a hit for several years, is on target to have one of the biggest movie openings of his career and set a box office record for September with Hotel Transylvania 2

Sandler voices Dracula in the film which he co-wrote and co-produced  and which also stars the voice talent of Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg and Kevin James.

Industry estimates put its opening weekend tally at $46 million or higher based on Friday's box office receipts.

That would make it Sony's highest-grossing opening so far this year and on target to beat the record set by the first movie Hotel Transylvania that made $42.5 million in its first three days. 

It could also become the comedian and actor's second-highest grossing movie ever after 2005's The Longest Yard, Deadline.com said Saturday.

Box Office monster: The animated sequel to the 2012 original is on target for a $46 to $48 million weekend according to early industry extimates

Box Office monster: The animated sequel to the 2012 original is on target for a $46 to $48 million weekend according to early industry extimates

Repeat success: Selena Gomez returns for the sequel and lends her voice talent to the character of Mavis
Repeat success: Selena Gomez returns for the sequel and lends her voice talent to the character of Mavis

Repeat success: Selena Gomez returns for the sequel and lends her voice talent to the character of Mavis

The Intern, starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, tracked in second place earning $6 million on Friday and is on target for a $17 million weekend, Variety reported.

Last weekend's number one film Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is in third place bringing in another $4 million.

New release Everest, based on a true story and starring Josh Brolin and Jake Gyllenhaal, also earned about $4 million in gross receipts.

Eli Roths' The Green Inferno, about a group of students whose plane crashes in the jungle where they're taken captive by cannibals, opened to $1.5 million.

New releases: Comedy The Intern, with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, opened in second place on Friday while adventure drama Everest looks set to place fourth in the box office top 10 this weekend
New releases: Comedy The Intern, with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, opened in second place on Friday while adventure drama Everest looks set to place fourth in the box office top 10 this weekend

New releases: Comedy The Intern, with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, opened in second place on Friday while adventure drama Everest looks set to place fourth in the box office top 10 this weekend

 

 

 

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