A slew of new releases enter the box office fray this weekend, including First Man, but none of them with the real hype that both Venom and A Star Is Born continue to have going on. So, what new film will perform the best?
First Man is the Damien Chazelle-directed, Ryan Gosling-starring film about the first moon landing. With the duo’s first team-up following La La Land, First Man has been getting rave reviews, with Oscar talk directed at both Gosling and Chazelle. While I expect the movie to do well, and likely have legs as another awards contender, I once again reiterate my feeling that Gosling, while a true talent, can’t open a film. That’s why First Man will likely have to settle for a third place debut with $20 million.
Also new is Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, which has almost zero hype surrounding it, which is strange considering the 2015 film was a fairly solid success at the box office. However, the lack of Jack Black as R.L. Stine in ads hasn’t helped in the least, and reviews have been negative. Look for a fourth place debut with a lacklustre $15 million.
As for the rest of the top five, Venom and A Star Is Born are going to be duking it for the top spot at the box office, and it is going to be tight, tight, tight. Considering the likelihood of a significant drop-off for Venom, look for A Star Is Born to grab number one with $31 million, with the Venom right behind in second place with $30 million. Finally, Bad Times at the El Royale, an ensemble film noir from director Drew Goddard, will debut in fifth place with $10 million.
So, to recap, here are our predictions:
1) A Star Is Born – $31 million
2) Venom – $30 million
3) First Man – $20 million
4) Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween – $15 million
5) Bad Times at the El Royale – $10 million
Be sure to check back on Sunday to see how the weekend turns out!
