Two long-time movie stars faceoff this weekend in a rematch from the fourth weekend of June 2010, but both may succumb to the second weekend of an animated threquel, much like how that weekend played out two years ago. Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups ($40.5 million) beat Tom Cruise’s Knight and Day ($20.1 million), but both were topped by Toy Story 3’s $59.3 million. This year’s animated threquel Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted [MADG3] opened to $60.3 million last weekend and should hold well with minimal competition for the family audience. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted may tumble around 45% to $33 million, which should be enough to repeat at the top spot.
Tom Cruise [TCRUI] leads an all-star cast in the feature adaptation of the jukebox musical Rock of Ages [ROAGE]. Hit songs from the hair metal era are used to tell the story of sex, drugs and rock & roll on the Sunset Strip of the '80s. Director Adam Shankman [ASHAN] directed 2007’s musical Hairspray which opened to $27.5 million in 2007. While Rock of Ages will attract older women as well as men who grew up on the rock anthems, its appeal with younger demographics will determine whether the PG-13 rated musical can break out. Rolling into 3450 theaters, Rock of Ages may fist pump out $28 million.
Adam Sandler [ASAND] goes R-rated in his latest comedy That’s My Boy [TMBOY]. Sandler has been a consistent moneymaker for his PG-13 rated man-child routine for well over a decade. After the PG-rated Jack and Jill misfired at $25 million however, the comedian has gone to the other extreme by borrowing from The Hangover films. Sandler plays yet another man-child as a terrible father who crashes his son’s bachelor party and wedding. Sony has released redband trailers to showcase the film’s crass vulgarity in hopes of winning back older Sandler fans. unfortunately, it will come at the expense of teenage boys not to mention female moviegoers. Playing in 3030 theaters, That’s My Boy may collect $25 million.
Audiences had polarized reactions to the sci-fi epic Prometheus [PROME]. The Alien prequel is poised to drop more than 50% to about $24 million.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): MADG3, TCRUI, ROAGE, ASHAN, ASAND, TMBOY, PROME