A pair of new films steps up to the plate looking to finish on top of the box office standings. The Jackie Robinson biopic 42 [42] chronicles the adversity faced by the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers as he became the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in 1947. Newcomer Chadwick Boseman stars as Robinson, while Harrison Ford [HFORD] lends his starpower as the Dodgers manager. Warner Bros. timed the release of the PG-13 rated drama with the start of the baseball season, which will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on April 15th. Aside from baseball fans, African-Americans should also turn out in force for the inspirational story of a real-life hero. Playing in 3003 theaters, 42 could score $20 million.
The horror spoof Scary Movie 5 [SCAR5] arrives seven years after the previous installment opened to $40 million. Even with the stunt casting of Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan [LLOHA], the latest PG-13 rated sequel will fall well short of its predecessors. Dimension took so long in making another film that it was beaten to the punchline by the rival spoof A Haunted House, which debuted at $18 million in January. Scary Movie 5 may have to settle with around $15 million from 3402 theaters.
After a solid debut at number one, Evil Dead [EVILD] is headed for a hard fall typical of horror film. A 55% tumble would land at $11 million.
Two limited releases broadening into moderate release should break into the top ten as The Place Behind The Pines [TPBTP] expands to 514 theaters while Trance [TRANC] expands to 438 theaters.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): 42, HFORD, SCAR5, LLOHA, EVILD, TPBTP, TRANC