One ring is looking to rule them all this weekend at the box office, and it probably won’t have any trouble at all doing so, even against a return trip to a museum and a little orphan girl. Here’s our prediction:
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies has already grossed $25 million on its opening day this past Wednesday, and should destroy all the competition it will be up against. Peter Jackson has once more captured the imagination of fantasy fans with his Hobbit trilogy, and while I can’t say I’m a fan, millions of folks are, and will no doubt arrive in droves to see the final adventure of Bilbo Baggins. Look for a first place showing with $72 million.
Opening this weekend is Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb, reuniting Ben Affleck, Owen Wilson and Robin Williams, in one of his final roles. This continues to be a popular franchise, and the death of Williams will likely draw in a few non-fans as well. However, the weekend is crowded so the film will likely draw less than it would have had it opened at another time. Look for a second place showing with $25 million.
Also opening this weekend is the urban retelling of Annie, staring Quvenzhané Wallis as the title character and Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks (Daddy Warbucks to you and me). The first trailer I saw for this film left me feeling cold, but the second one managed to work some magic. Again though, wrong time to open, not too mention the fact that the film was part of the massive Sony leak from a few weeks back. Methinks Annie is going to have a hard time finding an audience. Look for a third place showing with $15 million.
As for the rest of the top five, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will be in fourth place with $12 million, while Exodus: God and Kings will close things out in fifth with $10 million.
So, to recap, here are our predictions:
1) The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – $72 million
2) Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb – $25 million
3) Annie – $15 million
4) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – $12 million
5) Exodus: Gods and Kings – $10 million
Be sure to check back on Sunday to see how the weekend turns out!
