Weekend Preview: The Return to Oz

L. Frank Baum's magical Land of Oz returns to the big screen this weekend in Disney's Oz: The Great and Powerful. Also causing a bang this weekend is Dead Man Down, the reunion of Noomi Rapace and Niels Arden Oplev, who directed her stunning performance as Lisbeth in Män som hatar kvinnor (aka the Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.)

There should be no contest this weekend with Oz easily taking first place, considering Disney's impressive marketing campaign, very good brand recognition, and the relative lack of other new releases. Oz should also easily beat Identity Thief's $34 million opening weekend, giving it the highest opening weekend of the year so far.

In contrast, Dead Man Down has neither the marketing strength of a large studio like Disney behind it, nor Oz's brand recognition. Even with stars Rapace and Colin Farrell, Oplev's action thriller will be lucky to open above $10 million.

Are you ready to journey back to Oz, or does the yellow brick road lead somewhere else for you? Share your weekend movie plans below!

Tune in next time to see Halle Berry's The Call or Steve Carell's The Incredible Burt Wonderstone can steal the box office crown from Oz.