Mutants overload the long Memorial Day weekend as X-Men: Days of Future Past [XMEN5] combines the cast of the two previous films in the superhero franchise. X-Men: The Last Stand capped off the first trilogy with $122.9 million over the same holiday weekend in 2006. However, most moviegoers disliked the film, which led Fox to reboot the series with a younger cast. James McAvoy [JMCAV] and Michael Fassbender [MFASS] led the prequel X-Men: First Class, which opened to $55.1 million in June of 2011. Its sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past now brings back most of the original cast as well with a story that uses time travel to bridge the two different lineups. Days of Future Past has been highly anticipated by comic fans and the early buzz is that the PG-13 rated film lives up to expectation. However, The Last Stand ended on a sour note, and moviegoers aren’t exactly clamoring for the return of Storm and other lesser X-Men. Hugh Jackman [HJACK] is back as Wolverine, but fans have already seen him in a couple of spin-offs. Jennifer Lawrence [JLAWR] is arguably the biggest draw now after The Hunger Games and winning an Oscar for The Silver Linings Playbook. Advanced ticket sales have not been reported as outpacing other recent superhero films such as The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Opening in 3996 theaters, X-Men: Days of Future Past could score $110 million over the 4-day weekend.
After its monstrous debut, Godzilla [GODZL] may be headed for a hard fall. Word of mouth is mixed due to the lack of screen time for the title character. Godzilla may take in $50 million through Monday.
Adam Sandler [ASAND] and Drew Barrymore [DBARR] reunite for the PG-13 rated comedy Blended [BLEND]. 10 years have passed since the duo opened 50 First Dates to $39.9 million, and their fans have shrunk significantly with each subseqeunt film. The low-brow humor about Americans taking their first world problems to Africa will only appeal to the lowest common denominator. Cruising into 3555 theaters, Blended may whip up $26 million over the 4-day weekend.
The R-rated comedy Neighbors [NEIBR] looks to cross the $100 million milestone with $18 million over the long holiday weekend.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): XMEN5, JMCAV, MFASS, HJACK, JLAWR, GODZL, ASAND, DBARR, BLEND, NEIBR