Even Hollywood goes on vacation. So while you’re nursing your hangover in Yonkers, they’re beaching it in some exotic foreign locale, and the box office is destined to look eerily similar to last weekend’s. That means the lovable dog movie Marley & Me stays on top, Brad Pitt’s Oscar contender The Curious Case of Benjamin Button generates more coin, the Adam Sandler family dreck Bedtime Stories lures in more unwitting moviegoers, and Tom Cruise continues to fool others into thinking he’s a German in the Bryan Singer-directed drama Valkyrie. Happy New Year!
What these four very different movies do have in common is they all seem destined to reach the $100 million threshold, with Marley & Me getting there first, likely crossing it by the time we all return to work Monday. So while you’re enjoying the first few days of the New Year, sit back, watch some Bowl games, do your Christmas returns, go see some movies, and check back here to see if any of my weekend box office predictions come true.
The (likely) three-day top five:
1. Marley & Me: $29 million
Earning an additional $14 million this past Monday and Tuesday, there seems to be little that can stop the lovable Marley. And the mixed critical reviews mean nothing when it comes to people and their dogs. Add in the spare time moviegoers have over the next few days, and the Owen Wilson- and Jennifer Aniston-starrer shouldn’t drop more than 25 percent in its second weekend in theaters.
2. Bedtime Stories: $19 million
It may not have knocked critics over, but this Adam Sandler kid movie seems to be just what parents need over the holiday break: a break. Monday and Tuesday saw $12 million in box office receipts and I expect the weekend to be equally strong. Even with a likely 30 percent drop from its opening-weekend numbers, the fantasy-comedy will be near $80 million territory after only 11 days in the theaters.
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: $18 million
Well-regarded but not necessarily beloved, Benjamin Button will have a hard time overtaking Marley at the box office. The $150 million spectacle is still performing strongly and should hold onto its number three spot easily this coming weekend. But at 2 hours and 40 minutes, its chances of overcoming Stories are slim.
4. Valkyrie: $16 million
Tom Cruise and MGM should be saluted. Valkyrie has endured more negative speculation than any movie in recent memory, but rather than succumbing to the bad buzz, they turned it around and created one of their first self-generated hits. Their weekday numbers have been respectable and after the upcoming weekend, this WWII spy drama will have crossed the $60 million mark after only 11 days in theaters.
5. Yes Man: $12 million
Moviegoers are still saying Yes to Jim Carrey. Nothing this weekend should change that as the Warner Bros. comedy spends its third successful weekend in theaters. Maybe this saying Yes thing really works.
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I enjoyed Marley and Me. Looking forward with Tom Cruise movie Valkyrie.
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How much of that extra promotion money went back into the film to falsely inflate numbers and stats, because if Valkyrie tanked, a lot of people would be out of a job. You think the investors won’t see this ?
Just as much money to market as to make the film and it’s self promoting LOL,
excuse me, self generating it is LOL
saw valkyrie last night with my dad who is a WW2 veteran. He said it was about 90% accurate (which in Hollywood is pretty damn good). Lack of accent notwithstanding, it was a very entertaining film, not to mention educational. Of course, the subject content isn’t for everyone. It is definitely not the family movie that Marley and Me is. On the other hand, the viewing we saw was sold out.
Valkyrie was awesome and better than I thought it-I highly would tell people to see this movie! I thought Benjamin Button was beautifully done! Those are my top two!
Of course the book of Marley and Me was better but the cute puppy was great in this movie. I don’t give it a high vote but I also loved Benjamin Button. I just think it’s all about what people will see. Happy new year!
I seen Valkyrie on Christmas Day and I was so impressed! I had no idea about all the people who were out to get Hitler! It was very good. I seen Benjamin Button two days ago and I thought it was a very well made movie. Bravo to these two movies. My nephew say the Adam Sandler movie and said he like it alot. My mom seen Marley and Me and said it was just ok.
I’m not sure that I’d say that Yes Man has had three successful weekends. It’s definitely benefitting from being out during the holidays but it didn’t start off that strongly at all…
http://theboxofficejunkie.com is not quite as nice as you are, but your predictions are relatively similar this week.
Marley and Me (as a book) was a best seller. Nobody is going to rush to see Jennifer Aniston (who has no screen presence) or Owen Wilson (doesn’t compare to Luke.) This movie has done well because of the “DOG” – but that’s a good thing as you won’t remember anything else after you leave the theatre.
LindaR, spare me your hateful comments. We went to see the movie because of MS. JENNIFER ANISTON AND SO DID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MOVIEGOERS. Jennifer’s last movie, BreakUp was a smash hit so stop yucking. This is not the first dog movie and they did not gross much, so don’t tell me it’s the dog stupid.
Saw 3 movies over the Christmas weekend and like most joined the large crowds to see Marley & Me. Well worth it and see why it is top. I highly recommend it to everyone. Second saw Valkyrie which was a poor day to release and saw it not on Christmas day. Could have been better not what it was hyped up to be, should have waited to rent it when it goes on video if it makes it that far. Third Benjamin Buttons another fantastic film gotta go see it.
My dog died recently too so Marley was painful but also therapeutic for me. I really enjoyed the Eastwood movie and Tom Cruise. TC and his movie deserves the Oscars. Valkyrie is impressive than Benjamin Button considering Pitt’s movie was more expensive to do while Cruise is also close to meeting its expensive budget.
How could your dad know it was 99% accurate? Was he a Nazi??? Where does he live? I know some people who are looking for him.
How could your dad know it was 90% accurate? Is he a Nazi? If so, I know some people who are looking for him.
My dog was in World War 2, and he was involved in a plot to kill Hitler’s dog “The Third Rover.” His story will be documented in the upcoming movie “Valkyrie & Me.” I hope you’ll all go see it.
Jennifer Anniston is the luckiest person on this planet. She has little talent and a chin as big as a boot. Also she is a smoker, a lush, a whiner and a self absorbed pity party. And she does not like her fans. This means you Jessica.
valkyrie was pretty awesome….one of tome cruise’s best movies
*tom
Make mine Defiance and Valkyrie. To the person below complaining about the German accent in Valkyrie watch the German Valkyrie.No one cared because it sucked. People didnt care for the accent but the story and the success of the movie showed that. Are you gonna complain about the accents too in The Pianist?Schindler’s list?Enemy at the Gates?Zhivago?No Russian accent at Hunt for Red October? No French accent in Casablanca? Ben Hur? Path to Glory? No Spanish accent in Zorro? etc
How do you revive the career of a once top-notch movie star who spent over a year destroying his public image? Well, if sitting down with Oprah doesn’t turn things around, I would say you resort to having him play the guy who tries to kill the most hated man in history. If that doesn’t subliminally get the people back in your corner….nothin’s gonna!!
oh my gosh, Jessica. Get over yourself! Why does Aniston not deserve any credit for her work?! Thank goodness someone wrote something logical about why she deserves credit! The Box Office Junkie (I think the link is already on this page) just wrote an amazing overview of why she SHOULD get credit for Marley and Me’s success. It made me happy.
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Hey everyone, for those of you on the fence about Valkyrie, apple has the first six minutes of the movie: http://www.apple.com/trailers/mgm/valkyrie/
I know the organizations that are against Tommy boy will always have something negative to say. So this link is not really for them, (Even though I know they will watch it.) This link if for the people who interested but are not really sure if they want to pay to see Valkyrie in the theater. Here is a good way to make up your own mind.