Three special effects laden films open wide this weekend with two of them having the stink of being delayed from last year. The third offering The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water [SPBO2] carries no such baggage. The PG-rated sequel finds the 2D characters exploring the real world in 3D. The first SpongeBob SquarePants Movie opened ten years ago with $32.0 million. The sequel will have to target new parents, which shouldn’t be a problem considering the animated series is still running strong on Nickelodeon.The live-action scenes should also attract teenagers who grew up on the cartoon. The SpongeBob Movie 2 could soak up $33 million from 3641 theaters.
American Sniper [AMSNP] took a 52% drop due to the Super Bowl. With the buzz still spreading through Middle America, the war drama should pick up another $20 million.
The Wachowskis [WACHO] return with their latest big-budgeted, sci-fi spectacle, Jupiter Ascending [JUPTR]. Channing Tatum [CTATU] and Mila Kunis [MKUNI] lend their starpower to the PG-13 rated film, though with questionable make-up decisions. Much like M. Night Shyalaman, the Wachowskis brand now elicits more scorn than appeal. Bad reviews only confirm what fans knew as the real reason for why Warner Bros. pushed the release date back from a better summer slot to the dead of winter. Taking off in 3150 theaters, Jupiter Ascending may come down with $18 million.
The long-delayed Seventh Son [SPKAP] finally arrives after producer Legendary Pictures jumped ship from Warner Bros. to Universal. When the PG-13 rated fantasy was first scheduled to open February 2013, Ben Barnes [BBARN] was a bigger name than Kit Harrington [KHARI]. Two years later, the studio probably wishes their roles have been reversed. Jupiter Ascending will steal away from its young, male target audience, but no matter, Legendary has already taken a huge write-off on the film. Playing in 2872 theaters, Seventh Son may collect $8 million.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): SPBO2, AMSNP, WACHO, JUPTR, CTATU, MKUNI, SPKAP, BBARN, KHARI