It’s a very different movie world that we live in today when a new Bruce Willis movie is fighting for the top spot against the second weekend of an animated pic. But such is the case this frame when the beloved Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs lobbies for the number one place its sophomore session, against the Bruce Willis sci-fi flick Surrogates. Fame is likely to lure in the tween girls and nab the third spot in the derby. Predictions are below.
1. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: $20 million
Audiences loved this movie last weekend and with little else for family moviegoers, more will be back this weekend for some flying 3-D meatballs. A 40% drop would put the film at $18 million but I think parents are going to boost those numbers even higher. It helps that the 3-D experience has been so well-received.
2. Surrogates: $18 million
How weird is it that a Bruce Willis movie is opening this weekend and the movie posters don’t feature the iconic action hero? Maybe the marketers couldn’t fathom sticking that odd blonde wig Willis is sporting in the film on giant posters. Whatever the reason, it will be interesting to see if Disney’s high-concept marketing approach to this film will work. Prognosticators have placed this opening anywhere from $22 million to $18 million and I’m sticking to the low end of the range. I’m just not convinced this movie, based on the graphic novel of the same name and directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3), is going to connect with audiences.
3. Fame: $14 million
What teenage girl didn’t love the 1980s television show, or for that matter the movie that preceded it? But we’re a long way away from the 1980s and while Debbie Allen means something to 30-somethings, she and her school of performing artists don’t resonate at all with MGM’s core audience for this remake: tweens. So it will be interesting to see if this remake can lure in the kids. Tracking suggests it will open in the low teens. We’ll have to see if that pans out. Today’s reality shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent may satiate the need to watch raw talent being discovered.
4. Pandorum: $6 million
This R-rated sci-fi film enters a very crowded horror marketplace. It may star Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster but the story of astronauts waking up in a deserted spacecraft has generated very little attention. It is opening in 2500 theaters and will be lucky to cross the $5 million mark.
5. The Informant!: $5 million
Reviews have been mixed on this Steven Soderbergh, Matt Damon collaboration. The film opened last frame to $10 million. I’d count on at least a 50% drop for this R-rated comedy.
Also opening:
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell in 120 locations; Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story on four screens; Clive Owen’s The Boys Are Back on six screens and Paramount’s low-budget acquisition Paranormal Activity on 12 screens in college towns.
Photo Credit: Stephen Vaughan
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did they fire the last guy that kept being off at the box office? Better hope it right or she be out of here too soon. Damn you EW.
I think you’re under-rating Fame. With films like Step Up and HSM3 doing really well and this film being advertised during Glee and So You Think You Can Dance, I’m seeing this doing #1.
EW certainly is quiet about the bomb that was their precious Jennifer’s Body. Lol
Ah, this weekend sucks. Maybe I’ll go see ‘In the Loop’ at the cheap theater instead.
Why is it that you think Fame is for kids? I can see a dominent female audience but not age specific. Dance movies attract a wide range of ages.
Hollywood take notice…..3D is the next big thing for moviegoers!!!!!
Why is Bruce Willis wearing that awful wig in the photo? Do the film makers really think that it looks authentic? Almost as bad as that thing that Mariah wears in Precious.