Pixar has a new film opening so it must be mid-June. This year’s model is the sequel Cars 3 [CARS3], the third film featuring Owen Wilson [OWILS] as Lightning McQueen. The animated series is still popular with children, even if it's not ranked highly by adults. Cars 2 opened to $66.1 million in 2011, but finished at $191 million, more than $50 million less than Cars. However, the buzz and reviews for Cars 3 are much better than Cars 2. Parents still trust the Disney-Pixar brand, and will have no problems bringing their kids to another sequel. Starting in 4256 theaters, Cars 3 could flag down $63 million.
Wonder Woman [WONDR] is showing even stronger legs than the most optimistic projections. Wonder Woman will surpass $250 million with a third weekend around $32 million.
The Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me [TUPAC] finally arrives after years in development hell. However, the R-rated film was produced to meet a deadline without any stars. The Summit release also lacks the critical acclaim of the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton. Dropping into 2471 theaters, All Eyez on Me may hit $21 million.
Sony hopes to harshness the girlpower that drove Wonder Woman with Rough Night, the first R-rated comedy directed by a woman in nearly 20 years. Scarlett Johansson [SJOHA] and company have a wild bachelorette party weekend that turns deadly, basically Bridesmaids do Very Bad Things. Reviews are similar to Bad Moms, which the same target audience pushed to $23.8 million last August. Rough Night could end up with $20 million from 3162 theaters.
Moviegoers weren’t interested in a Mission: Impossible version of The Mummy [MUMY4] starring Tom Cruise. The Mummy could dissolve 55% in its second weekend to $14 million.
Entertainment Studios acquired the previously bound-for-video PG-13 rated thriller 47 Meters Down [47MDW] after the success of The Shallows. Mandy Moore [MMOOR] and Claire Holt play sisters menaced by sharks. Diving into 2300 theaters, 47 Meters Down could surfaced with $4 million.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): CARS3, OWILS, WONDR, TUPAC, SJOHA, MUMY4, 47MDW, MMOOR