Weekend May 28th-May 31st PRINCE OF PERSIA BOX-OFFICE PREDICTION: $41 million ACTUAL: $37.8 million When you have an Ad campaign that promotes the release date more than the movie itself, it's called desperation. Look for this one to barely avoid the red.
Sex and the City 2 PREDICTION: $50 million ACTUAL: $37.1 million When you have an Ad campaign that promotes the title more than the actual movie itself, it's once again called desperation. Look for this one to make half of what its predecessor made.
Weekend May 21st-May 23rd Shrek Forever After PREDICTION: $84 million ACTUAL: $71.3 million Stale Franchise delivers one final blow to the box office. It won't match its predecessors, but come on, this is America. And Shrek has become a household name for families who need a movie to take the kids too. What else are they going to see, The Human Centipede?
Weekend May 14th-16th Robin Hood PREDICTION: $38 million ACTUAL: $36,063,385 Difference: Approx $2 million With this being the only big release of the weekend, look for this one to grab the #2 spot by default (Iron Man 2 should come in around $55 million). However, it will still be a modest hit in the U.S, and an even bigger one overseas.
Weekend May 7th-May 9th
Iron Man 2
PREDICTION: $153 million ACTUAL: $128,122,480 million Difference: $25 million
Blockbusters are either the hardest or easiest films to predict. In this case, I think it's safe to say that Iron Man 2 will probably be the biggest movie of the summer (unless Inception or Toy Story 3 have anything to do with it). While I don't know if it will break The Dark Knight's opening weekend ($158 million), it will certainly come close. And kudos to the film for not going 3D.
Stay tuned for the answer this Sunday.
Weekend April 30th-May 2nd
Nightmare on Elm Street
PREDICTION: $35 million
ACTUAL: $32 million
DIFFERENCE: $3 million
The only, ONLY reason why I would even consider seeing this remake is the inspired casting choice of Jackie Earl Haley to play the iconic villain Freddie Kruger. Haley is not the reason why the movie will make money (and in my fantasy world, neither will producer Michael Bay) but I think it will certainly elevate whatever material the screenwriters provide. Look for this one to take the #1 spot by default. It's a remake of a popular movie and it's the only wide release of the weekend that deserves to be recognized. Sorry Brendan Fraser, but Furry Vengeance looks like your performance at the Golden Globes meets Dr. Dolittle 3: Tail to the Chief.
