The first official weekend of autumn begins with the child abduction drama Prisoners [PRSNS]. Hugh Jackman [HJACK] and Jake Gyllenhaal [JGYLL] lead an all-star cast in the R-rated drama about parents agonizing over the kidnapping of their children and then taking matters into their own hands. The Warner Bros. release has earned rave reviews since premiering at the Telluride Film Festival and already touted as a strong awards contender. The story should appeal strongest with older females, not a demographic most likely to rush out opening weekend. Debuting in 3260 theaters, Prisoners could lead the box office with $18 million.
After the second best September opening ever, Insidious: Chapter 2 [NSID2] is headed for a precipitous fall befitting of all horror sequels. Insidious: Chapter 2 will likely tumble around 60% in its second weekend to $16 million.
The 3D dance film Battle of the Year [BATYR] is a dramatic adaptation of the documentary Planet B-Boys. Singer Chris Brown [CHBRO] is the most notable star of a group of break-dancers coming together to compete for the World Championship. After delaying the film’s release for nearly a year, Sony has embargoed reviews from critics. Neither are a good sign for the PG-13 rated film, though neither really matters to the target teen audience. Stepping into 2008 theaters, Battle of the Year may capture $9 million.
With direct competition from Prisoners, The Family [TFMLY] could drop 45% to $8 million in its sophomore outing.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): PRSNS, HJACK, JGYLL, NSID2, BATYR, CHBRO, TFMLY