Leatherface vs Matt Damon – Biff Bam Pop’s Box Office Predictions

It’s January, which means burial ground for the studios. That is, don’t look for quality releases over the next four weeks. For proof – I give you Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D.

Has anyone been waiting for this film other than the participants and their closest relatives? The story, about a woman who discovers that her long lost cousin is franchise icon Leatherface seems pretty trite and simply an excuse for violent 3D kills – which will definitely appeal to non-discerning genre fans, but hardly the rest of the masses. If this one makes it into the top ten, consider it a miracle.

Check out what else is out this weekend and that may hit the top five after the jump!
Promised Land is the other notable release of the weekend, reuniting Good Will Hunting collaborators Matt Damon and Gus Van Sant in a film about two corporate sales people looking to buy drilling rights in a rural town. The film has been receiving mixed reviews, with critics basically feeling the film succeeds more than it fails. However, Damon is a draw, so look for Promised Land to narrowly make the top five with $8.9 million.

So what will do well? Look for a close battle between The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Django Unchained for the top spot at the box office. I’m predicting a neck and neck race, with Django coming out on top with $21 million, with The Hobbit close behind with $20 million. Hitting third place should be Les Miserables with $18 million, followed by Parental Guidance with $12 million.

So, to recap, here are our predictions:

1) Django Unchained – $21 million
2) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $20 million
3) Les Miserables – $18 million
4) Parental Guidance – $12 million
5) Promised Land – $8.9 million

Be sure to check back on Sunday to see how the weekend turns out!