Riddick Box Office Prediction

This Friday there is only one new wide release coming to theaters. That would be David Twohy’s Riddick starring Vin Diesel, the third pic in this franchise. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen this character. Diesel’s second most-known (after Fast and the Furious) film series debuted in 2000 with Pitch Black and continued in 2004 with The Chronicles of Riddick. That second picture was actually considered a box office disappointment nearly a decade ago when it opened at $24.2 million but went on to earn a mild $57 million domestically.

If Riddick made $24 million in its domestic run, that would be considered pretty darn good today. Expectations are lower this time around. First, the film is budgeted at a modest $38 million. Second, this franchise certainly doesn’t have the audience anticipation that Vin’s other franchise does. Riddick may benefit from a weak marketplace as summer holdovers start to fade away and the big fall titles have yet to be released. To me, this is an example of a picture that could easily over or under perform. Anything over $25 million would be more than expected. Anything below high teens would be a letdown. Ultimately, I think this opens just under what its predecessor made in the summer of 2004.

Riddick opening weekend prediction: $23.4 million