Tag: Roy Scheider

Jaws 50th Anniversary Box Office Prediction

Celebrating its 50th anniversary is the OG summer blockbuster and it’s out in multiplexes over Labor Day weekend. That would be Steven Spielberg’s Jaws with Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, an unforgettable score, and a mechanical shark that sometimes worked and mostly didn’t.

Unquestionably one of the most influential and iconic pictures in cinematic history, it surpassed The Godfather in 1975 as the highest grossing movie ever (holding that record until Star Wars two years later).

Unadjusted for inflation, Spielberg’s first blockbuster stands at $477 million worldwide (nearly $3 billion in today’s bucks). The milestone birthday could add mid to possibly high single digits over the four-day holiday to its coffers.

Jaws 50th Anniversary opening weekend prediction: $5.6 million (Friday to Monday estimate)

For my The Roses prediction, click here:

The Roses Box Office Prediction

For my Caught Stealing prediction, click here:

Caught Stealing Box Office Prediction

For my The Toxic Avenger Unrated prediction, click here:

The Toxic Avenger Unrated Box Office Prediction

Jaws Box Office Prediction

As the summer box office draws to a close, Universal is hoping nostalgic audiences are ready to go back in the water with a reissue of Jaws. The 1975 classic, which vaulted Steven Spielberg to directorial superstardom, hits approximately 1200 venues over the long Labor Day weekend. This is essentially the picture that created the modern blockbuster. It also spawned three sequels and countless knockoffs.

47 years after it first surfaced, I’m a little skeptical this amasses a big audience (it’s still on cable on a very frequent basis). Just two weeks ago, another Spielberg classic went the IMAX route. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was on nearly 400 screens and made $1 million.

Jaws has the advantage of more screens and an extra day due to holiday. I’ll project that get it just past $3 million. That puts in well below the other Labor Day re-release Spider-Man: No Way Home – The More Fun Stuff Edition. 

Jaws opening weekend prediction: $3.1 million (Friday to Monday estimate)

For my Spider-Man: No Way Home – The More Fun Stuff Edition, click here:

Spider-Man: No Way Home – The More Fun Stuff Edition Box Office Prediction

For my Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. prediction, click here:

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Box Office Prediction

Cry Macho Box Office Prediction

Blogger’s Note (09/16): On the eve of its premiere, I’m revising my estimate down from $8 million to $6.4M

At age 91, Clint Eastwood is still averaging about a movie a year and his latest is Cry Macho. The Western themed drama is based on a 1975 novel by N. Richard Nash. The cinematic version has been in development for so long that Burt Lancaster and Roy Scheider were once attached (as was Arnold Schwarzenegger close to 20 years ago).

Per usual, Eastwood directs. He also stars and it marks his first appearance onscreen since 2018’s The Mule. Costars include Dwight Yoakam and Eduardo Minett. As a Warner production, it will also be simultaneously available on HBO Max.

The question is whether fans of the filmmaker will pack theater seats… or will Eastwood mostly be talking to empty chairs? The Mule kicked off to a solid $17.5 million start nearly three years back. It had the advantage of having a higher profile December release date and more buzz.

Older audiences with streaming access may opt to view it at home. It seems a little risky to underestimate the legendary nonagenarian, but I’ll project Macho doesn’t quite reach double digits.

Cry Macho opening weekend prediction: $6.4 million

For my Copshop prediction, click here:

Copshop Box Office Prediction

For my The Eyes of Tammy Faye prediction, click here:

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Box Office Prediction