It’s not a trio of super-villains Spider-Man has to fear this weekend, but the new Neighbors [NEIBR] starring Seth Rogen [SROGE] and Zac Efron [ZEFRO]. Despite being only 6 years apart, Rogen plays a mature adult and new father who clashes with a college frat boy played by Efron. Universal has had success marketing R-rated comedies, and the trailers have genuine laugh out loud moments. Since its premiere at the SXSW festival, Neighbors has steadily built up fantastic buzz with young adult moviegoers. Fandango reported Neighbors has been the best R-rated comedy advance ticket seller since Universal's Ted, which hit $54 million. Invading 3279 theaters, Neighbors could rake in $41 million.
As with most superhero sequels opening the first week of May, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [SPID5] is likely to have been front-loaded by fanboys. The Amazing Spider-Man dropped 44% in its second weekend, but that had the benefit of opening on a Tuesday in July to flatten the first weekend total. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has garnered mixed word of mouth not unlike Spider-Man 3, which tumbled 61% in its second weekend six years ago. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 may fall 55% to $40 million.
With Neighbors moving in, the comedy The Other Woman [OTHRW] is likely to erode to $8 million in its third weekend.
The animated film Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return [DOFOZ] is the first release distributed by Clarius Entertainment. While the PG-rated film covers a familiar territory to all, the quality of animation will turn off most moviegoers except some families with very young children. Opening in 2641 theaters, Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return may earn $6 million.
Sony hopes to take advantage of Mother’s Day weekend with the PG-rated comedy Moms’ Night Out [MOMNO]. Lacking any starpower however, Moms’ Night Out may take home $4 million from 1044 theaters.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): NEIBR, SROGE, ZEFRO, SPID5, OTHRW, DOFOZ, MOMNO