It’s time to put on make-up, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to see if The Muppets can lay the smack down on vampires who go out in the light.
Catchy, right? Well, hopefully filmgoers will find the year of hype leading up to the new Muppet movie catchy too, as the film is spending its opening weekend duking it out against Team Edward and Team Jacob and the rest of the Twi-hards? Will Miss Piggy be able to give Bella a solid “high-ya!” to the solar plexus, or will the vampires sink their teeth into the Great Gonzo’s grosses?
Ok, I’ll stop now. Let’s get into the predictions:
The big movie opening this weekend is indeed The Muppets (it actually opened this past Wednesday, in time for Thanksgiving). Jim Henson’s beloved creations have been all over the media, from record albums to talk show appearances to even a solid and humourous appearance with co-star Jason Segal on Saturday Night Light last weekend. Even if you’re not a Muppet fan, you’d be hard-pressed not to know that the film is now out. The question is, after all the hype is said and done, can The Muppets make some money? The answer, I think we’ll see, is a definite yes, but not as much as Disney (owners of the franchise) might hope for based on the hype. The film could last through December though if word of mouth is strong. I’m predicting a second place finish for The Muppets this weekend with $30 million.
Also opening this weekend are two other family films. The first, Arthur Christmas, comes from the same production studio as the one that gave us Chicken Run and Wallace And Gromit and is the story of Santa’s dysfunctional family. What Arthur Christmas has going for it is obvious – it’s a Christmas flick and an entertaining trailer. But will that be enough to get people into theatres? Look for the film to debut in fourth place with $13 million.
The third and final new family offering is Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. The film has been getting rave reviews but its story, about a Parisian train station and the young boy living within its walls, is clearly not mainstream that either The Muppets or Arthur Christmas is. Look for Hugo to debut outside the top five, likely number six with around $6 million.
As for the rest of the top five, the Twilight train continues to roll on, though expect to see a huge drop from last weekend’s near record breaking opening. I’m predicting a first place showing for Breaking Dawn Part 1with $36 million. Happy Feet 2 will drop one spot to number three, and bring in $15 million, while Puss In Boots will round out the top five with $8 million.
So, to recap, here are our predictions:
1) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 – $36 million
2) The Muppets – $30 million
3) Happy Feet 2 – $15 million
4) Arthur Christmas – $12 million
5) Puss In Boots – $8 million
Check back on Sunday to see how the American Thanksgiving weekend turns out!
