Tag: Dave Bautista

September 20-22 Box Office Predictions

Hasbro’s animated Transformers One looks to dislodge Beetlejuice Beetlejuice from its #1 perch and Halle Berry’s horror pic Never Let Go hopes to bring in genre fans this weekend. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Transformers One Box Office Prediction
Never Let Go Box Office Prediction

Transformers should manage to assemble a first place showing in the middle to higher 30s. Expectations aren’t as high for this compared to the live-action action pics, but decent reviews and kid business should help.

Lionsgate has had a string of flops over the past few weeks (The Killer’s Game being the latest) and I expect that to continue with Never Let Go. My mid single digits projection for it should mean a fourth place premiere.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, after ruling the charts for the past two weeks, should ease close to 50% for second place. See No Evil may also see a drop in the low to mid 40s for third with Deadpool & Wolverine rounding out the top five in its ninth outing.

Here’s how I have it playing out:

1. Transformers One

Predicted Gross: $35.4 million

2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Predicted Gross: $26.7 million

3. Speak No Evil

Predicted Gross: $6.5 million

4. Never Let Go

Predicted Gross: $4.7 million

5. Deadpool & Wolverine

Predicted Gross: $3.9 million

Box Office Results (September 13-15)

It was a lucky Friday the 13th frame for Tim Burton and company as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice held up stronger than I assumed in its sophomore frame. The long in development sequel grossed $51.3 million compared to my $40.9 million take. After ten days, its impressive haul stands at $187 million.

Psychological thriller Speak No Evil with James McAvoy debuted on the lower end of its anticipated range at $11.3 million in second. I was more generous at $14.6 million. With a B+ Cinemascore (solid for its genre), it may hold up fairly well in the weekends to come.

Deadpool & Wolverine was third with $5.2 million, a tad more than my $4.4 million call. After 8 weeks, the MCU juggernaut has earned $621 million.

I incorrectly did not have hot button documentary Am I Racist? in my top five but it performed impressively in fourth with $4.5 million.

Reagan was in the five spot with $2.9 million (I said $3.1 million) for $23 million after three weeks in play.

Finally, the aforementioned The Killer’s Game with Dave Bautista was DOA in sixth with $2.6 million. I gave it slightly more credit with a $3.7 million forecast.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

September 13-15 Box Office Predictions

Psychological thriller Speak No Evil with James McAvoy and action comedy The Killer’s Game starring Dave Bautista hope to get lucky with audiences this weekend as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice looks to reign supreme for a second frame. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Speak No Evil Box Office Prediction
The Killer’s Game Box Office Prediction

Evil appears poised for an easy second place start as I have the Blumhouse remake of a 2022 Danish flick in the low teens.

As for The Killer’s Game, I look for it to continue a tepid streak for distributor Lionsgate in the mid single digits. That could mean fourth place with holdovers Deadpool & Wolverine in third and Reagan in fifth.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice impressed in its opening frame (more on that below). That business might be prove to be front loaded. A low to mid 60s sophomore slide is likely and understandable.

Here’s how I have it all shaking out:

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Predicted Gross: $40.9 million

2. Speak No Evil

Predicted Gross: $14.6 million

3. Deadpool & Wolverine

Predicted Gross: $4.4 million

4. The Killer’s Game

Predicted Gross: $3.7 million

5. Reagan

Predicted Gross: $3.1 million

Box Office Results (September 6-8)

Tim Burton’s long in the making sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice achieved the second best September start in box office history with $111 million. That puts it in between 2017’s It ($123 million) and its 2019 follow-up ($91 million). While it didn’t quite match my $115.7 million prediction, audiences were clearly primed for Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder’s returns to their iconic characters with Jenna Ortega joining the proceedings.

Deadpool & Wolverine was the runner-up with $7 million (I was higher at $9.8 million) for $613 million after seven weeks of slashing 2024 records.

Reagan held up well in third with $4.8 million. My projection? $4.8 million! In two weeks, the biopic has made $18 million.

Alien: Romulus was fourth at $3.9 million (I said $4.5 million) to bring the four-week tally to $97 million.

I incorrectly did not have It Ends with Us in the top five, but it managed fifth with $3.7 million. It has totaled $141 million in five weeks.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Oscar Predictions: The Last Showgirl

The Last Showgirl has hit the Toronto Film Festival with an iconic Canadian actress in the limelight. From director Gia Coppola (granddaughter of Francis, niece of Sofia), Baywatch star Pamela Anderson headlines as an aging Vegas performer. The supporting cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Billie Lourd, and Kiernan Shipka.

Early word-of-mouth indicates Anderson nails her leading role. It’s safe to say she’s come a long way since Barb Wire nearly 30 years ago. Showgirl has yet to find a stateside buyer so there’s no guarantee that it’s out by the end of 2024. Assuming it does make the domestic cut this year, Anderson’s viability in Best Actress could depend on who picks up distribution. A spirited campaign could put her in the mix. Curtis is also being called a scene stealer. However, her win only two ceremonies back for Everything Everywhere All at Once might hinder her exposure.

Reviews for the picture itself are more mixed. Anderson is probably on the outside looking in, but let’s see how this plays out before passing final judgment. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

The Killer’s Game Box Office Prediction

Lionsgate is looking for heavy multiplex play for The Killer’s Game when it opens September 13th. The action comedy from director J.J. Perry stars Dave Bautista as an assassin fending off competitors. Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Bautista’s Guardians of the Galaxy costar Pom Klementieff, Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, and Ben Kingsley costar.

It’s been a rough go for Lionsgate recently. In August, the studio had two of the summer’s biggest busts with Borderlands and The Crow. I don’t see Game reversing their fortunes in early autumn. Out on approximately 2500 screens, mid single digits seems likely.

The Killer’s Game opening weekend prediction: $3.7 million

For my Speak No Evil prediction, click here:

Speak No Evil Box Office Prediction

Dune: Part Two Box Office Prediction

Dune: Part Two looks to storm the box office when it debuts on March 1st with what should easily be the largest debut so far in 2024. Denis Villeneuve returns as director with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem back in action. Newcomers to the franchise include Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, and Anya Taylor Joy.

The follow-up to the 2021 original could double its opening. As you may recall, Dune experienced a COVID delay from fall 2020 to fall 2021. The pandemic still limited its potential as it simultaneously premiered on Max. That resulted in a $41 million start which was quite impressive for that period of time. It wrapped up its run at $110 million domestically.

At its low end, Part Two is expected to take in $60 million out of the gate. Reviews for the continuation of Frank Herbert’s source material top part one and it’s currently at 98% on RT with plenty of Oscar nominations expected months down the road. The high end of its range is $80 million or even $90 million.

I am forecasting this could get to the low to mid 80s for the aforementioned double up of its predecessor with a little room to spare.

Dune: Part Two opening weekend prediction: $83.6 million

Oscar Predictions – Dune: Part Two

In 2021, Denis Villeneuve’s vision of Dune generated 10 Oscar nods and six victories. The eagerly awaited Dune: Part Two sweeps into theaters on March 1 (this time with no simultaneous release date on Max). It is expected to outdo its predecessor in terms of box office numbers (my financial estimate is hitting the blog shortly). Part Two may also match or exceed the original’s nomination count.

The review embargo lifted today and the current RT score is a dazzling 97%. That’s up over the 83% that Dune had. Many critics claim it improves upon part one in every way. Villeneuve returns to direct. Among the sprawling cast, we have Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem back in the mix. Newcomers to the franchise include Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, and Anya Taylor Joy.

At the 94th Academy Awards, Dune‘s took gold in tech races Cinematography, Film Editing, Original Score, Production Design, Sound, and Visual Effects. Had Part Two not been pushed from 2023 to 2024, it would likely be in serious competition with Oppenheimer and others in those competitions. It would have Visual Effects locked up. Dune ’21 also had nominations for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling.

Let’s be clear. Based on the reaction out today, Part Two should vie for inclusion in all those categories… and more. You may recall that Villeneuve was notably snubbed in Director three years back. The Academy might make up for that this time around.

Then there’s the actors and that’s trickier. Ferguson got a little ink as a possibility for Supporting Actress for Dune. For the sequel, expect the same for Chalamet and especially Butler as the villainous Feyd-Rautha. It is also possible the cast will be ignored. For the Lord of the Rings trilogy, only Ian McKellen ever managed a nomination for the initial chapter.

Bottom line: Part Two looks like 2024’s first surefire contender in BP and much more (it is hard to imagine it losing derbies like Cinematography and Visual Effects). The 96th ceremony hasn’t aired yet, but the 97th seems to have truly started with this embargo lapsing. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

The Boy and the Heron Box Office Prediction

Blogger’s Update (12/06): It appears The Boy and the Heron is opening on approximately 2100 screens. That is more than I assumed and my estimate rises from $3.8 million to $8 million

Legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki (of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle acclaim) came out of retirement to make The Boy and the Heron. It flies into North American venues on December 8th after robust business overseas. Unsurprisingly, critics are lauding it (97% RT score) as it might battle Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse at the Oscars. The fantasy arrives with a dubbed version for stateside crowds featuring the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh.

After debuting in Japan over the summer and expanding to other nations, it has made $83 million thus far. GKIDS is handling North American distribution and it is said to have the widest release in the studio’s history. That said, I’ve yet to see a theater count and that could alter my projection.

Miyazaki is a bigger draw elsewhere, but he certainly has his ardent fans here. Again, depending on the count, I can’t see this getting below $3 million. Earning over $5 million could be a chore.

The Boy and the Heron opening weekend prediction: $8 million

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marches to the beat of the writer-director James Gunn’s carefully curated playlist of the mawkish blended with the macabre. The actual needle drops are plentiful from Radiohead to Florence and the Machine and Earth, Wind & Fire and Spacehog (there’s actually CG swine in space in case you were wondering). Storyline A inflicts enough grotesque violence on cute furry creatures that I anticipated Sarah McLachlan piping up with a syrupy ballad, but it isn’t to be.

Team captain Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is far from over the death of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) in Avengers: Infinity War as we begin. Since it’s the MCU, she didn’t perish in the traditional way. The character was back as a different version of herself and with amnesia of her primary franchise’s activities in Avengers: Endgame. Now the leader of the thieving Ravagers, Gamora reunites with the old gang when Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is attacked and left critically wounded. As a reminder, the team also consists of Gamora’s half sister Nebula (Karen Gillan), charmingly dense warrior Drax (Dave Bautista), empath Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Bob Ross favorite Groot with Vin Diesel grumbling his limited dialogue.

The highly intelligent raccoon Rocket is given the full flashback origin treatment in the third volume. His demented creator is Orgocorp CEO High Evolutionary (a scenery devouring Chukwudi Iwuji) who specializes in developing hybrid creatures and discarding them if they don’t meet his standards. Spoiler: the vast majority do not. Rocket is one of his most prized subjects from his dozens of batches at Orgocorp. It is only at the corporate headquarters that his life can be saved so the Guardians set course.

Along the way there’s stops at other galaxies including the bizarro Counter-Earth with its populace of human/animal hybrids. That extended sequence is an example of Gunn at his best with the grimly comedic gumbo. It works well on that planet and in plenty of other moments. Rocket’s backstory does manage to pull the heartstrings fairly successfully.

All other subplots are given the short shrift. Drax and Mantis have a few humorous bits though they’re truly secondary characters this time (as is Groot). Even the presence of Gamora, while giving the gifted Saldaña basically a fresh character to play, takes a backseat to Rocket’s launch in the plot. I’ll note that it’s taken this long to mention Adam Warlock (Will Poulter). He was teased at the end of volume 2 as a nemesis to the title heroes. Adam is responsible for Rocket’s wounds and then the script doesn’t really know what the heck to do with him. He could’ve been written out the script entirely and it would’ve made zero difference. Pratt’s work as Peter Quill/Star-Lord is still a treat. It’s an MCU casting decision that ranks almost as high as Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. He manages not to be overshadowed by his omnivorous costar.

Of the various sub-franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe containing three entries or more, Guardians is surprisingly the first where quality flows in order of release. That’s not to say the quality is missing. It’s that the mix has more lowlights than the previous two and definitely runs longer than necessary. Gunn still manages to make the sentimental and sometimes sadistic concoction worthwhile and it’s a cut above most MCU material post Endgame.

*** (out of four)

Oscar Predictions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 touches down in multiplexes on May 5th to kick off the summer season. The 32nd feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe arrives six years after the second Guardians. James Gunn is back in the director’s seat for the third time with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper among those reprising their roles in real and voiceover form.

This franchise in the MCU has caught the attention of awards voters. 2014’s original nabbed two nominations in Makeup and Hairstyling and Visual Effects. It lost to The Grand Budapest Hotel and Interstellar, respectively. 2017’s sequel made it in for Visual Effects and came up short to Blade Runner 2049.

Reviews for the third go-round are mostly positive (though several critics say it tries to pack in too much). The Rotten Tomatoes score is currently 80%. That’s behind the 92% achieved by part 1 and 85% of its follow-up. That said, Vol. 3 could certainly (and probably will) be the 3rd Guardians pic and 14th overall MCU title to get make the VE five. Makeup and Hairstyling is definitely on the table. If so and it would be the third MCU pic to contend there after the first Guardians and last year’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Anything beyond inclusion in those two races would be a surprise. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Box Office Prediction

Nearly three months after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania couldn’t quite match expectations at the box office, another MCU threequel hopes to exceed them. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 arrives six years after the second volume with James Gunn returning to direct (he has since moved to the DCEU as their head creative honcho). Back in physical and voiceover form are Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Elizabeth Debcki, and Sylvester Stallone. Will Poulter, Chukwudi Iwuji, and Maria Bakalova are newbies to the franchise. This is the second entry in Marvel’s Phase Five and 32nd feature overall.

2014’s Guardians was a critical and commercial smash that made $94 million for its start with a $333 million eventual domestic take. The goodwill was evident when Vol. 2 kicked off summer 2017 with a $146 million premiere and $389 million overall.

Early buzz is that tracking for the third adventure has been underwhelming. It should certainly surpass the $106 million that Quantumania opened at. Matching the second Guardian‘s haul (or the $144 million that Thor: Love and Thunder made last July) might be more challenging.

If this fails to match what its predecessor accomplished, that would be considered a letdown. I am projecting it will by around $20 million and therefore continue the MCU’s shaky 2023.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opening weekend prediction: $125.3 million

For my Love Again prediction, click here:

Love Again Box Office Prediction