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Whisper Numbers: G.I. JOE duke it out Easter weekend

Three new wide releases enter the box office fray on the Easter holiday weekend led by the action sequel G.I. JOE: Retaliation [GIJO2]. Although G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra opened to $54.7 million during August 2009, the film’s reviews and reactions were mixed. Dwayne Johnson [TROCK] was brought in to lead a mostly new cast of characters for the sequel, while the star of the first film Channing Tatum [CTATU] was reduced to a token appearance. Originally set to open last June, the release date was suddenly shifted a month out and delayed to this weekend in order to convert the film to 3D, as well as to slightly beef up the role of Tatum, who has become an A-list draw. Directed by a professed G.I.JOE fan Jon M. Chu [JCHU], Retaliation hews closer to the comic and cartoon series based on the toy action figures, which should please its male target audience. The appearance of Bruce Willis [BWILL] as the original JOE may also bring out his older fans. The PG-13 rated film is opening on Thursday to get a head-start on the weekend and Paramount has already earned $2.2 million from “midnight” showings. Blasting into 3719 theaters, G.I. JOE: Retaliation could shoot up $45 million from Friday to Sunday.

With many schools out for spring break and the Easter holiday weekend, The Croods [CROOD] will have the family as well as the comedy audience all to itself. The Croods could hold 65% of its debut for a $28 million second outing.

Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor [TMRGC] is the latest Lionsgate film from writer-director Tyler Perry [TPERR] targeted at African-Americans. His last non-Madea film Good Deeds opened to $15.6 million in February of 2012. Although Perry does not star in the PG-13 rated Temptation, its theme of infidelity and the sexy cast including Kim Kardashian [KKARD] should appeal to a wider audience. Targeted in 2047 theaters, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor could bring in $18 million

The sci-fi romance The Host [HOST1] is the latest young adult novel adaptation hoping to be the next Twilight, except it’s the only one actually from Twilight author Stephenie Meyer.  However, her rabid female fanbase is unlikely to carry over from vampires to aliens in similar numbers. The PG-13 rated film stars Saoirse Ronan [SRONA] as a teenager resisting the alien parasite that’s taken over her mind. Open Road has done a decent job marketing both the romance and the sci-fi aspects of the story.  Despite being directed by Andrew Niccol [ANICC] though, The Host will be hard-pressed to attract many male, sci-fi fans.  The Host may take in $17 million from 3202 locations.

Olympus Has Fallen [OLYHF] outperformed everyone expectation in its opening and retains good word of mouth. However, heavy competition from G.I. Joe will cut Olympus Has Fallen down by more than 50% to $14 million.

That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.

Tag(s): GIJO2, TROCK, CTATU, JCHU, BWILL, CROOD, TMRGC, TPERR, KKARD, HOST1, SRONA, ANICC, OLYHF

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