Critics are already hailing Gravity as this year's Life of Pi and a frontrunner in several Oscar races. But how will it fare at the box office? The subject matter is going to be a barrier for some people, like my better half, who have no interest in putting themselves through the anxiety of watching Sandra Bullock floating stranded in space. Hopefully the prospect of seeing some of the most innovative visual effects since Avatar will help some people master their fears. I have no question that hardcore science fiction fans will show up in droves, which will launch Gravity to the top of the box office, but how high it will go is hard to say. Pi opened last November to $22 million. 2013 so far has been an okay year for original sci-fi, with Elysium and Pacific Rim opening to $29 and $37 million respectively. Without much competition, two beloved stars, and rave reviews out the wazoo, Gravity should easily open around $35 million domestically.
Ben Affleck made headlines recently by signing up for the cowl and cape in Zack Snyder's upcoming Batman and Superman movie, but will that and goodwill from his Oscar winning Argo help convince audiences to show up to see him share screen time with Justin Timberlake? Runner Runner comes to us from Brad Furman, director of 2011's decently successful The Lincoln Lawyer, which helped Matthew McConaughey re-brand himself as a serious actor. Counter-programming should also give Runner a boost, with the film hoping to snatch up those who think Gravity will be too spacey. Action thrillers haven't performed very well so far this year, with Snitch claiming the highest opening weekend with $20 million. I expect Runner to open somewhere between The Lincoln Lawyer's $13 and Argo's $19 million opening weekends, though there's no chance that Runner will have the legs to match the latter's $136 million total domestic gross.
Metallica Through the Never's IMAX exclusive opening weekend brought in $1.5 million from 305 theaters, which is pretty close to last year's Raiders of the Lost Ark IMAX re-release's $1.6 million opening weekend in 267 theaters. Metallica looks to take the show to a wider audience this week by doubling its theater count. Unfortunately, it is going to lose most of its IMAX screens to Gravity. A $3 million gross this weekend would be nice, but this film is a hard sell outside of the band's dedicated fanbase, even with good reviews.
Also opening this weekend:
A.C.O.D. - three theaters;
All is Bright - ten theaters;
Argento's Dracula 3D - six theaters;
Bad Milo!;
Besharam - 217 theaters;
Concussion;
Dislecksia: The Movie;
Grace Unplugged - 511 theaters;
The Institute;
Let the Fire Burn;
Linsanity;
Nothing to Fear - five theaters;
Parkland - 217 theaters;
Pulling Strings - 387 theaters;
Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde;
The Summit - eight theaters.
Tune in next week to see if Tom Hanks' Captain Phillips can fight off Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills.
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