Three new wide releases look to divide and conquer the box office this weekend. Sylvester Stallone [SSTAL] has assembled a who’s who of male action stars for The Expendables [XPNDB]. In a summer filled with cartoon violence and CG thrills, The Expendables promises to deliver R-rated mayhem for moviegoers nostalgic of ‘80s action films. Liongate’s marketing has been prevalent in hyping the first on-screen meeting of Stallone, Bruce Willis [BWILL] and Arnold Schwarzenegger by showing nearly all of their one entire scene. Expectations have been running high from the target audience of males over the age of 25. Opening in 3270 theaters, The Expendables should have enough ammunition to blow away around $30 million.
While the men are reliving the ‘80s, women can reconnect with the box office queen of the ‘90s Julia Roberts [JROBE] in Eat Pray Love [ETPLV]. Based on a very popular memoir, the romantic drama about a woman’s spiritual quest through Italy, India and Bali should appeal to the book’s female fanbase while also attracting mature couples. Eat Pray Love could gain about $23 million from 3082 locations.
Not to be left out, teens and hipsters look to drop serious coins for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World [SPILG] based on the popular series of graphic novels. Michael Cera [MCERA] plays a young man who must battle through the seven ex-boyfriends of the woman he loves. Directed by Edgar Wright [EWRIG], the PG-13 film plays like a videogame come to life replete with gaming effects that should connect with everyone who grew up playing Nintendo. Powering up in 2818 theaters, Scott Pilgrim should score roughly $19 million.
The Other Guys [OTHRG] could suffer a bit competing with three fresh films in its second weekend. A decline nearly 50% would bring in around $18 million. Inception rounds out the top five with a still dreamy $12 million in its fifth trip back.
That’s the whisper from the trading floor.
Tag(s): SSTAL, XPNDB, BWILL, JROBE, ETPLV, SPILG, MCERA, EWRIG, OTHRG