Hollywood usually avoids the weekend before a blockbuster like Avengers: Endgame, but this weekend happens to include Good Friday and Easter. The holiday weekend should be led by The Curse of Llorona [CHLDN]. Although billed as from the producers of The Conjuring universe, The Curse of Llorona is not set in that world. Instead, the R-rated film is based on a Mexican folklore, which should attract Hispanic moviegoers, a demographic that also loves horror. The poor reviews are not going to matter. Showing in 3372 theaters, The Curse of Llorona may finger $20 million.
Fox targets Christians with the PG-rated drama Breakthrough [BRKTH] based on a true story. Two Easters ago, Miracle from Heaven from the same producers opened to a $1.9 million Wednesday and $14.8 million weekend. Breakthrough also took in $1.9 million Wednesday and should be able to convert $14.5 million from 2764 theaters.
Shazam! [SHAZM] looks to bank another $13 million for its third weekend. Among the sophomore films, Little [LITLE] should hold better than 50% at around $8 million, while Hellboy [HELB3] is likely to lose 60% to $5.0 million.
Penguins [PENGUN] is this year’s Earth Day documentary from Disneynature. Last year, Born in China debuted to $4.8 million. Penguins opened on Wednesday with $500,000, so the weekend take from 1815 theaters should be about $4.5 million.
Bleecker Street expands Teen Spirit [TSPRT] wide to 696 theaters after playing one week in 4 theaters. The Elle Fanning [EFANN] starrer could earn $2.5 million
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): CHLDN, BRKTH, SHAZM, LITLE, HELB3, TSPRT, EFANN