It’s always fascinating to observe the box office competition, the bloody Hollywood gladiatorial clash. To cheer for champions and underdogs, to speculate on tactics, or to hail the demise of the dreadful. And, of course, to witness the weekly reminders that success (or failure) isn’t always an indicator of quality.
All through the week, JoBlo.com delivers news, reviews, rumors and opinions on everything about the movies. But when the weekend arrives, eyeballs tend to fall on the business side of show business to see how those all-important numbers tally.
With no new major releases (the buzzed NC-17 Michael Fassbender/Carey Mulligan drama SHAME arrives on just 9 screens) and the recuperation of feasts and shopping, this should be a relatively quiet weekend. But after their defeat over the long holiday, this week THE MUPPETS should be able to bring more humans to theaters than the bloodthirsty competitors of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN (PART 1).
Two years ago during this typically slow post-Thanksgiving weekend, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON’s third week in theaters settled for the runner-up spot to THE BLIND SIDE ($15M to Sandy’s $20M), while this weekend last year saw TANGLED take the top spot (with $21.6M) over the third week of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 (at $17M).
So families could likely be the main moviegoing crowd, but unfortunately for our felt friends, there are a number of options — besides HAPPY FEET TWO, last week’s new entries ARTHUR CHRISTMAS and HUGO have been getting high scores from audiences. Scorsese’s pic was just named the year’s best film by the National Board of Review, and is also expanding out to 1800+ locations, so the 3D film could conceivably give THE MUPPETS and the vamp marriage a run for their money but will probably land down in third.
Meanwhile, George Clooney’s drama THE DESCENDENTS has continued to creep up the chart thanks to strong word-of-mouth (it’s still at less than 400 locations), to the point that it could very well sneak into the top half of the list.
My stab at the Top 5:
1. THE MUPPETS – $18M
2. TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 – $16.5M
3. HUGO – $11M
4. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS – $9M
5. THE DESCENDANTS – $6M
POST YOUR PREDICTIONS BELOW…!!!