The weekend after Labor Day brings only one new release to the box office as the summer movie season draws to a close and people go back to school and work. Vin Diesel [VDIES] reprises his breakout role as an ex-con who can see in the dark in Riddick [RIDC2]. The sequel comes nine years after the big-budgeted The Chronicle of Riddick opened to $24.3 million, but failed to launch what was to be a sci-fi trilogy. Diesel got the rights to the character back in exchange for his return to the Fast & Furious franchise. The independently produced Riddick returns to the settings of the 2000 original Pitch Black as an R-rated monster horror film. Diesel has tirelessly promoted the to his legion of Facebook followers, and the Universal should appeal to his male urban fanbase. However, other demographics may pass on Riddick, which looks too much like a remake of Pitch Black. Opening in 3107 theaters, Riddick could stake out $23 million.
Lee Daniels’ The Butler [BUTLR] has benefited as the only adult-targeted drama in the marketplace. With strong word of mouth, The Butler looks to finish second with around $9 million in its fourth weekend.
One Direction: This Is Us [ODCM] was the top film from Friday to Sunday of Labor Day weekend, but dropped on Monday as with all teen-targeted concert films. The UK boy band may stumble 60% in its sophomore session to $6 million.
Instructions Not Included [ININC] shocked Hollywood with a 4th place $7.8 million debut, the biggest ever for a Spanish-language film in just 348 theaters. The comedy expands wide into 717 theaters and could pull in another $5 million.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): VDIES, RIDC2, BUTLR, ODCM, ININC