Weekend Preview: March of the Giants

The arrival of the summer creeps earlier and earlier each year at the box office. Though the summer blockbuster season won't be officially begun until G.I. Joe: Retaliation comes out on the 29th, it is significant to recognize that Jack the Giant Slayer is the first $100+ million release of the year. Also vying for some of that early summer cash are nationwide releases 21 and Over from two of The Hangover's writers, The Last Exorcism Part II (because everyone agrees that a film with "last" in its name should get a sequel,) and submarine thriller Phantom, as well as Chan-wook Park's (Thirst, Oldboy) English-language debut: Stoker.

Jack should easily win the weekend, unless Beautiful Creatures' opening was a sign of some fantasy fatigue at the box office. Of all the new releases it boasts the most well known cast (Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Eddie Marsan, Ian McShane, and Warwick Davis), and should appeal to almost every demographic, unlike the other new releases. Exorcism and 21 and Over will probably both end up in the mid-teens for the weekend, due to targeting a narrower demographic range and having less than stellar marketing pushes. Phantom will come in third out of the new releases, but only because it's being released in around 2000 theaters. Expect this one to make a few million and then fade back into obscurity. Lastly, Stoker will be showing in seven theaters this weekend, so one million for the weekend would be very impressive. It should do some good business for a limited release if it gets good word-of-mouth coming out of it's opening weekend, but that may not be enough for it to score a nationwide release.

I'm planning to see Jack the Giant Slayer this weekend. What are you planning to see?

Tune in next time to see if James Franco in Oz: The Great and Powerful can magic his way to box office glory ahead of Dead Man Down.