Following the worst box office weekend in five years, this weekend will surely bring the box office back to form with its diverse new releases. First, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino team up again in Righteous Kill. These two Oscar winners haven’t appeared on screen together in over a decade in Heat. This movie will definitely have flocks of casual and serious moviegoers crowding into theaters to watch.
Next, Tyler Perry is at it again with his newest dramedy, The Family That Preys. If there’s something that I’ve learned since following the box office, is that you should NEVER bet against Tyler Perry. He has a huge following and keeps making movies that fit into the main demographic who enjoys his products the most. Even though it’s opening in a little more than 2,000 theaters, expect this film to be in the Top 3.
The movie I’m looking forward to the most is the Coen brothers’ latest crime-comedy, Burn After Reading. This movie has caught my attention in many ways. First, it’s the Coens’ first film following their Oscar snatching No Country for Old Men. Second, did you see this all-star cast?! George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and Tilda Swinton. Yowzaas! And third, the movie just intrigues me. After watching countless commercials and trailers, it’s still not entirely clear to me what the movie is about. But I don’t care, it’s the Coen brothers. This is my must see of the weekend.
Finally, rounding out the new releases of the weekend is the chick flick, The Women, starring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, etc. Released in 2,962 theaters, this will be the girls’ night out movie pick of the weekend.
Now let’s check out our predictions…
Dan’s Predictions:
1. The Family That Preys – $18 million
2. Righteous Kill – $16 million
3. Burn After Reading – $14 million
4. The Women – $7 million
5. Tropic Thunder – $6 million
Phil’s Predictions:
1. Burn After Reading – $25 million
2. Righteous Kill – $20 million
3. Tropic Thunder – $10 million
4. The Women – $7 million
5. The Dark Knight – $5 million
My Predictions:
1. Righteous Kill – $15 million
2. The Family That Preys – $14 million
3. Burn After Reading – $13 million
4. The Women – $8 million
5. Tropic Thunder – $5 million
All three of us have very different takes on this weekend’s box office. I feel that the star power of Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino is too much of a force to be taken down this weekend. It should work as well as when Jet Li and Jackie Chan teamed up in Forbidden Kingdom during the summer for box office success. Also, being released in 2,800 theaters is only behind The Women in new releases, so I feel that’ll push it to the top of the weekend box office.
Dan, on the other hand, is sticking with the “never bet against Tyler Perry” theory, stating that will be the #1 movie of the weekend even though it’s being played in about 800 less theaters than Righteous Kill and The Women.
And Phil is under the impression that the Coen brothers have made a name for themselves among casual moviegoers, enough to land on the top of the box office. That, and it’s impossible to avoid five or six views of a Burn After Reading commercial.
Let’s see who comes out at the top this week… check back on Monday for the results.
Posted by Rob Eng 
