After scoring the biggest second, third and fourth weekends of all times, can Avatar [HWAVA] sink Titanic’s $30 million for the best fifth weekend ever as well? Chances are good for the blue aliens since the 3-day portion of the weekend fall before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. The 3D sci-fi epic has lost little momentum in its march through the record books. Avatar should be able to attract around $42 million over the 4-day and remain King of the Box Office.
Denzel Washington [DWASH] takes his persona to the post-apocalyptic world in the R-rated actioner The Book of Eli [BOELI]. Washington is a steady performer in the $25-30 million range, plus the film’s genre should attract more male moviegoers. Opening in 3111 theaters, The Book of Eli could deliver $35 million over the long weekend.
Jackie Chan [JCHAN] stars in the PG-rated comedy The Spy Next Door [SPYND], which is targeted at kids rather his action fans. Lionsgate may be encouraged by the success of Paul Blart: Mall Cop last year, but the premise of a secret agent turned babysitter is a tired cliché. Nevertheless, there should be enough of a family audience to give The Spy Next Door $14 million over four days from 2924 locations.
After five weeks of limited release, The Lovely Bones [LVBON] expands into 2563 theaters. Peter Jackson’s [PJACK] adaptation of the popular novel had been considered an awards magnet, until the film opened to terrible reviews. Paramount is now repositioning the film to attract young women, the only demographic wto respond favorably to the drama. The Lovely Bones could muster $10 million over the holiday weekend on the strength of its pedigree.
That’s the whisper from the trading floor.
Tag(s): HWAVA, DWASH, BOELI, JCHAN, SPYND, LVBON, PJACK