The Christmas holiday weekend brings a bundle of new releases to the multiplex. Little Fockers [MPRN3] and True Grit [TGRIT] open on Wednesday to lead the way. Universal has reunited the cast from Meet the Fockers for its sequel Little Fockers. The previous installment also opened on a Wednesday in 2004 and grossed $70.5 million in its first five days with $46.1 million for the weekend. While the reviews have been terrible, audiences often take comfort with a familiar broad comedy over the holiday. Opening in 3536 theaters, Little Fockers could unwrap $42 million over the weekend from an overall $68 million.
After a respectable opening, Tron: Legacy [TRON2] has performed well on weekdays for a male-oriented sci-fi film. With the holiday weekend being a primetime for movie-going, Tron: Legacy could derez less than 40% to about $27 million.
One week after leading Tron: Legacy, Jeff Bridges [JBRID] heads the western remake True Grit directed by the Coen brothers [COEN]. The film has earned rave reviews and award buzz which should attract the target audience of older adults. Playing in 3047 locations, True Grit could ride away with about $27 million in five days with $18 million on the weekend.
Jack Black [JBLAC] stars in a contemporary update of Gulliver’s Travel [GULVR]. Fox is not opening the PG-rated effects ladened comedy until Saturday due to a lack of 3D screens, though it’s also likely to prevent lousy word of mouth from spreading too quickly. Gulliver’s Travel could bag $11 million in two days from 2546 theaters.
After its successful wide expansion, The Fighter [FITER] should shred less than 30% to $9 million over the holiday weekend. Meanwhile, the equally buzzworthy Black Swan [BLKSW] ups its theater count to 1472 which should help pique the thriller to $8 million.
That’s the whisper from the trading floor.
Tag(s): MPRN3, TGRIT, TRON2, JBRID, COEN, JBLAC, GULVR, FITER, BLKSW