Thursday Night Report: ‘Finding Dory’ Sinks Animated Record w/ $9.2M; ‘Central Intelligence’ Bags Healthy $1.835M

Friday Update: Disney reports this morning that Finding Dory is already off to a record-breaking start, hauling in a stellar $9.2 million from Thursday’s opening night shows. That bests the previous record Thursday night gross for an animated movie (set by last summer’s Minions with $6.2), as well as the $4.7 million of 2013’s Despicable Me 2, the midnight-only $4.0 million of Toy Story 3Inside Out‘s $3.7 million, and Monsters University‘s $2.6 million. With strong reviews and Father’s Day weekend ahead, the long-awaited Pixar sequel is eyeing a massive opening frame.

Meanwhile, Central Intelligence pulled off a strong start of its own last night. The Dwayne Johnson-Kevin Hart flick bagged $1.835 million, coming in north of last year’s Get Hard ($1.8 million) and Spy ($1.5 million), as well as 2013’s The Heat ($1.0 million). The flick did fall short of San Andreas ($3.1 million), but direct comparisons are a stretch at this point given the counter-programming potential and the size of Dory‘s audience last night.

Official Friday estimates and early weekend estimates will be published here on Saturday morning. Stay tuned…