The British import BlindedbytheLight illuminates theaters this coming weekend after receiving glowing reviews from its debut earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. From director Gurinder Chadha, who made the breakout hit BendItLikeBeckham, the dramedy focuses on a teenager whose life is transformed by the music of Bruce Springsteen. Viveik Kalra is said teenager and the supporting cast includes Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, and Nell Williams.
As mentioned, Blinded was shown on the fest circuit and a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score followed. The pic would love to follow in the footsteps of this summer’s sleeper hit Yesterday, which rode its Beatles musical connection to impressive box office grosses. The ability for this to over perform is possible, but the likely scenario is a mid single digits premiere while it hopes to develop legs over subsequent weekends.
BlindedbytheLight opening weekend prediction: $5.8 million
For my TheAngryBirdsMovie2 prediction, click here:
Two years after the original turned into an unanticipated summer success, shark sequel 47MetersDown: Uncaged is unlocked in theaters next weekend. While director Johannes Roberts is back behind the camera, a whole new cast of potential chum is present. That includes Sophie Nelisse, Corinne Foxx (daughter of Jamie), Brianne Tju, Sistine Stallone (daughter of Sly), John Corbett, and Nia Long. Original star Mandy Moore is off somewhere and hopefully dry.
In June 2017, the first Meters had an interesting journey to the big screen. A measly $5 million production, it was originally slated to be a VOD only release. After it was acquired by Entertainment Studios and perhaps assisted by Moore’s exposure in the hit series “This Is Us”, it was put into multiplexes and had an $11.2 million debut. Doubling its price tag out of the gate, it legged out quite well for its genre and ended up at $44 million.
The follow-up won’t be able to surprise everyone and come out of nowhere. Expectations are that it should at least match the start of its predecessor. I’ll project that it falls short of that by around a million.
47MetersDown: Uncaged opening weekend prediction: $10.2 million
For my TheAngryBirdsMovie2 prediction, click here:
GoodBoys is looking to become this summer’s Superbad when the raunchy comedy debuts next weekend. Marking the directorial debut of Gene Stupnitsky, the film centers on three preteens doing R rated shenanigans. The kids are played by Jacob Tremblay of Room and Wonder fame, as well as unknowns Keith L. Williams and Brady Noon. Costars include Will Forte, Molly Gordon, and Lil Rel Howery.
Keeping with the Superbad theme, Boys comes from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s production company, who wrote that 2007 hit. The pic was first unveiled in March at the South by Southwest Festival to positive reaction. The Rotten Tomatoes score is at 78%.
That said, the buzz for this doesn’t seem as high. The chance for this to over perform is there. Yet I’m skeptical this earns half of the $33 million achieved by Superbad, which premiered over the same late summer weekend a dozen years ago. In fact, its debut might be in the preteens just like its stars.
GoodBoys opening weekend prediction: $14.3 million
For my TheAngryBirdsMovie2 prediction, click here:
Those animated and ill tempered fowls based on the video game you were obsessed with on your smart phone are back next week with TheAngryBirdsMovie2. Our first Birds flew into theaters in the summer of 2016 and the sequel returns the vocal stylings of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, and Peter Dinklage. Newcomers include Leslie Jones, Rachel Bloom, Awkwafina, Sterling K. Brown, and Eugenio Derbez. Thurop Van Orman makes his directorial debut.
Three years ago, Birds kicked off to a solid $38 million. Unlike many other animated offerings, it didn’t leg out particularly well with a final gross of $107 million. Surprisingly, critical reaction to this follow-up is stronger than what transpired before. This stands at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to 44% for its predecessor.
That said, I don’t see the sequel outdoing part 1. It opens on a Tuesday – perhaps in an effort to nab more kid business before schools start. A premiere of mid to high teens to over the traditional Friday to Sunday frame and low to possibly mid 20s for the six day is where I’m at.
TheAngryBirdsMovie2 opening weekend prediction: $17.2 million (Friday to Sunday); $25.4 million (Wednesday to Sunday)
Blogger’s Note (08/07): My ScaryStories prediction has risen from $10.7 million to $14.3 million
After several weeks of one giant blockbuster hopeful debuting and having the weekend to itself, a quintet of mid tier titles open in this second weekend of August. We have the kid friendly DoraandtheLostCityofGold based on the Nickelodeon series, PG-13 horror flick ScaryStoriestoTellintheDark, Melissa McCarthy/Tiffany Haddish crime thriller TheKitchen, dog tale TheArtofRacingintheRain, and wrongful imprisonment drama BrianBanks all out. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on all of them here:
Some weekends, it’s fairly easy to project the order of the top five. This isn’t one of them. A couple of things seem highly likely. After a decent start that was still on the bottom end of expectations, Hobbs&Shaw should manage to repeat in first place. I will say a drop of over 50% is where I see it landing in the sophomore frame.
DoraandtheLostCityofGold seems poised to have to biggest premiere of the five newbies. However, my high teens projection puts it in third behind TheLionKing.
I have ScaryStoriestoTellintheDark, TheKitchen, and TheArtofRacingintheRain all in the high single digits to low double digits range and all behind the third weekend of OnceUponaTimeinHollywood.
As for BrianBanks, its lack of promotion and lowly 1500 theater count means my $2.3 million prediction means it shouldn’t even compete for the top five.
So on this weekend of multiple new releases, my top seven take:
1. Hobbs&Shaw
Predicted Gross: $27.5 million
2. TheLionKing
Predicted Gross: $20.2 million
3. DoraandtheLostCityofGold
Predicted Gross: $19.7 million
4. ScaryStoriestoTellintheDark
Predicted Gross: $14.3 million
5. OnceUponaTimeinHollywood
Predicted Gross: $11.3 million
6. TheKitchen
Predicted Gross: $8.3 million
7. TheArtofRacingintheRain
Predicted Gross: $7.8 million
BoxOfficeResults (August2–4)
FastandFurious spin-off Hobbs&Shaw cruised over holdover competition as anticipated, but it couldn’t match the starting earnings of the last several traditional franchise entries. It took in $60 million, under my take of $72.6 million.
TheLionKing was second after two weeks of dominance with $38.5 million, right on pace with my $38.7 million projection. The massive total stands at $431 million.
OnceUponaTimeinHollywood was third in weekend #2 with $20 million, in line with my $20.7 million prediction. The two week haul is $78 million.
Spider–Man: FarFromHome took fourth with $7.9 million (I said $7.1 million) for $360 million overall.
ToyStory4 rounded out the top five with $7.3 million (I was slightly lower with $6.6 million) for a take of $410 million.
Tom Shadyac is best known as a maker of high profile and high grossing 90s comedies like AceVentura: PetDetective, TheNuttyProfessor, and LiarLiar. This weekend’s BrianBanks sees him working on a smaller scale in a different genre. Banks is the true life tale of a football player (Aldis Hodge) falsely accused of rape and the efforts of the Innocence Project to clear him. Costars include Greg Kinnear, Sherri Shepherd, and Morgan Freeman.
Reviews so far have been scarce, but those posted are pretty decent. The film is slated to open on a smallish 1500 screens and its biggest hurdle is likely plain awareness of its existence. A gross above $2 million could even be a challenge, but I’ll say it manages to clear that low bar.
BrianBanks opening weekend prediction: $2.3 million
For my DoraandtheLostCityofGold prediction, click here:
Another canine dramedy hits screens next weekend with TheArtofRacingintheRain. Based on a 2008 book by Garth Stein, the human stars are Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried with supporting work from Kathy Baker and Gary Cole. Kevin Costner provides the voice of lead dog Enzo. Simon Curtis directs. This is the first feature made by Fox where new owner Disney has handled the marketing.
Even the Mouse Factory’s expertise at selling product may not enough for Rain to break out of the pack of recent genre fare. In January, ADog’sWayHome debuted to just over $11 million. In May, ADog’sJourney did $8 million for its start. I believe the latter scenario is where this lands.
TheArtofRacingintheRain opening weekend prediction: $7.8 million
For my DoraandtheLostCityofGold prediction, click here:
Blogger’s Note (08/07): My prediction has increased from $10.7 million to $14.3 million
Based on a series of Alvin Schwartz horror novels geared towards children, ScaryStoriestoTellintheDark opens in theaters next weekend. Co-produced by Guillermo del Toro, the film comes from director André Øvredal who mostly recently made the critically appreciated TheAutopsyofJaneDoe. Cast members include Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, and Lorraine Toussaint.
The concoction of the horror genre marketing to a young audience is a risky one. I’m not confident this mix will result in pleasing box office earnings and I wouldn’t expect the “Stranger Things” crowd to turn out. Even though we’re talking PG-13 here vs. an R rating, I’ll project this performs similarly to what Overlord (which boasted its own known producer J.J. Abrams) did last year.
ScaryStoriestoTellintheDark opening weekend prediction: $14.3 million
For my DoraandtheLostCityofGold prediction, click here:
Melissa McCarthy and Tiffany Haddish go out of their comedic comfort zones next weekend with the release of TheKitchen. The crime thriller casts the two performers alongside Elisabeth Moss as the wives of incarcerated gangsters who take over Mob operations in New York. The late 70s set pic marks the directorial debut of Andrea Berloff and is based on a comic book miniseries. Costars include Domhnall Gleeson, James Badge Dale, Brian d’Arcy James, Margo Martindale, Common, and Bill Camp.
If McCarthy and Haddish were headlining a high profile slapstick comedy, my estimate for TheKitchen would likely be considerably more (easily double). However, I’m skeptical that a wide audience is eager to see them in this. If solid reviews pop up in the coming days, that could potentially change the dynamic a bit. I think it’s going to have difficulty reaching double digits.
TheKitchen opening weekend prediction: $8.3 million
For my DoraandtheLostCityofGold prediction, click here:
Making the leap from the Nickelodeon small screen for a live action rendering, DoraandtheLostCityofGold looks to cash in at theaters next weekend. The family adventure is based on the animated series “Dora the Explorer” that started back in 2000. James Bobin, best known for TheMuppets reimagining and AliceThroughtheLookingGlass, directs. Isabela Moner, recently seen in InstantFamily, is the title character with a supporting cast including Eugenio Derbez, Michael Pena, and Eva Longoria. Danny Trejo and Benicio del Toro provided voice work
Paramount is hopeful that a pot of gold will exist with Latino audiences and kids who’ve made the TV show part of their programming over the last many years. The film is probably review proof and they’ve been mixed so far. This shouldn’t face much trouble having the largest debut of the five pictures arriving over the weekend. I’ll say high teens to low 20s is where this lands.
DoraandtheLostCityofGold opening weekend prediction: $19.7 million