Ride Along With The Shadow Recruit – Biff Bam Pop’s Box Office Predictions

With Biff Bam Pop’s Editor-in-Chief, Andy B., still soaking up the Caribbean sun for a few more days, I get to step in once again, a sort of shadowy recruit for the man, and focus on the box office predictions for this upcoming weekend.

Well, that was a bit of a tip-off right there, wasn’t it? In terms of where I think gate receipts might be leading, hmmm? Did you catch it?

It’s a big MLK movie long weekend in the U.S., and there are a number of films being released that have high hopes for January dollar bills. Follow me after the jump and I’ll give you the goods on what’s new, and what will make money.

Some are suggesting that Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the fifth instalment of the Tom Clancy character to see the theatre (after The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears), will disappoint by not finishing anywhere near the top spot this weekend.

Hogwash, I say!

Just coming out of North America’s long cold snap, I think cinema-goers will flock to the heated action of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. This is a reboot of the franchise that once starred Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck in the role of Jack Ryan. The (new) mantle has been handed to up and coming action star, Chris Pine, who’s done a wonderful job in those two recent Star Trek films. There’s more star-power here to boot, including Kevin Costner, Keira Knightly, Kenneth Branagh (who also happened to direct the movie) and the always-amazing Colm Feore.  Although Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is meant to re-launch the Tom Clancy character, the film actually doesn’t follow any of Clancy’s acclaimed action-espionage novels. That said, Costner has apparently signed a two-picture deal to play his character, William Harper, next to be seen in the adaptation of Clancy’s Without Remorse, a book that focuses on the character John Kelly/John Clark who exists within the Jack Ryan world. That character was actually played by Willem Defoe in Clear and Present Danger. Actor Tom Hardy is rumoured to being courted for the role in Without Remorse. It looks like the studio is planning on two separate, but linked, action film franchises!

Ok. I’m getting way ahead of myself. Back to the movies and the predictions! Opening in over 3,300 theatres, look for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit to make $28 million.

Ride Along also makes its debut this weekend. Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart and John Leguizamo, the Ride Along movie poster has the interesting tagline of “Propose to this cop’s sister? Rookie mistake.” Yeah, it’s a comedy. Directed by Tim Story of Fantastic Four fame, expect both laughs and action. Many are suggesting that this film will be number one at the box office this weekend. Opening in 700 theatres fewer than the action movie I previously mentioned, I think comedy will finish closely behind action this coming weekend. Look for Ride Along to rake in a very respectable $27 million.

We’ve got a third genre available to us too. What choice! The horror movie Devil’s Due also opens today. Maybe you’ve seen the viral video that has been making the rounds on the interwebs? Who can resist a strung out devil baby spitting vomit and freaking unsuspecting people out?

Probably most, actually.

You have to think that “found footage” horror flicks are on the wane. Sure, scary movies are still great and Devil’s Due looks interesting enough, but with many people heading out to the theatre to see one of the two big opening films and many others checking out films that made the Oscar list, look for Devil’s Due to finish third with $12.5 million in box office receipts.

Lone Survivor, in it’s second week of release and The Nut Job, an animated film looking to make a hopeful debut, will round out the top five with $23 million and $12 million respectively.

So, to recap, here are my witchy divinations for this weekend:

1) Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – $28 million

2) Ride Along – $27 million

3) Lone Survivor – $23 million

4) Devil’s Due – $12.5 million

5) The Nut Job – $12 million

Be sure to check back on Sunday where we’ll discover how accurate this recruit has been with his picks!