Our friend and colleague Scotty G is on a much-deserved vacation for a few weeks so I’ll be filling in on Box Office Predictions in the meantime. I’m not going to try and imitate the man, mind you – there’s only one Scotty G. Instead, I’ll give you a quick rundown as to which big movies are opening this weekend and how I think the Top 5 will round out come Sunday.
There’s little question that Paranormal Activity 2 is going to top the box office this weekend. The surprise low budget hit from last Halloween did huge numbers on it’s opening weekend (nearly $20 million) and wound up making for than $100 million in North America. The buzz surrounding the sequel (which features a family rather than a couple) is actually pretty strong, thanks to Paramount working overtime to make Paranormal Activity 2 a must see horror flick. With that in mind, I’m going to say this new entry will lead the pack this weekend with a $32 million opening.
The other notable offering comes from director Clint Eastwood. Hereafter, staring Matt Damon in a supernatural film about three characters intimately involved with death, premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and has already received praise for Damon’s work. However, unlike Paranormal Activity 2, I don’t think there’s a ton of hype surrounding Hereafter. While adults might be drawn in thanks to Eastwood’s name (and his first time directing a spooky movie), the majority of filmgoers looking for a scare this weekend will no doubt be lining up to see PA 2. Add in the fact that Matt Damon films are often hit or miss at the box office (Bourne movies do great, but both Green Zone and The Informant underperformed) and I think you’ll see Hereafter open with a soft $10 million.
As for the rest of the top 5, Jackass 3D should continue to do well ($20 million), even though it will drop from the top spot. I think Red will see a steeper decline and wind up with $11 million, while The Social Network will continue to make friends and bring in another $8 million.
So here are my predictions:
Paranormal Activity 2: $32 million
Jackass 3D: $20 million
Red: $11 million
Hereafter: $10 million
The Social Network: $8 million
In the words of Scotty G, check back on Sunday to see how I did!
