Kevin Hart, whatever the effort or lack of effort he’s putting into his movies these days, is box office gold — the new Chris Tucker. He’s made the leap from up and comer, the latest cast member from “Freaks and Geeks” to break out — to fat and happy quicker than anybody could have imagined.

“Ride Along,” his first star vehicle since his concert films turned into surprise hits the past couple of years, should make — get this — $45 million by the end of the long holiday weekend. That’s an MLK Weekend record.

Bad reviews, because it is a crappy movie and he needs to associate himself with writers who can give him funnier things to say and do, did not kill it. “Ride Along” is a smash.

“Lone Survivor” is battling “The Nut Job” (which also got bad reviews) for second place. Both should be in the mid-$20s.

And then there’s “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” the best-reviewed new movie of the weekend. It isn’t bombing, but $18-19 million by Monday? Not much return on Paramount’s investment. Mishandled.

“The Legend of Hercules” fell out of the top ten. That’s got to be some kind of record, too.

“August: Osage County” and “Her” got nice Oscar nomination bounces. “Saving Mr. Banks” took an Oscar related (no big nominations) hit.

“Devil’s Due,” a weak-tea horror picture, looks to make $10 million by weekend’s end.