Image Credit: Karen BallardIt’s the battle of the sexes this weekend, and the outcome is not likely to inspire any feminists, as Sylvester Stallone’s action hero mash-up The Expendables is set to rule over Julia Roberts’ year-long trek in Eat Pray Love. As for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it seems the young males this movie is targeting are far more interested in watching Sly mix it up with Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham (pictured) et al. than seeing Michael Cera battle Ramona Flowers’ seven evil exes. Read on for my predictions.
1. The Expendables: $30 million
Sylvester Stallone really has done it. He’s assembled the biggest action stars of the past two decades, including California’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, into one giant action film. And despite middling reviews, the men are destined to attend. And not just men over 25 reminiscing on the heyday of Arnold, Bruce Willis, and Stallone. Young men are interested, too, and as such are likely to push the R-rated film into the top spot for the weekend.
2. Eat Pray Love: $20 million
She gets to eat in Italy, pray in India, and love in Bali, and for many women, it’s the year of a lifetime. But this chick flick, based on the chick lit by Elizabeth Gilbert is just that, for chicks. Most men are likely to choose housework over seeing this in the theater, and even the younger chicks aren’t so interested in one woman’s indulgent personal quest. Plus, those same young women have no real affinity for Julia Roberts, which means that at the end of the day, Eat Pray Love appeals to one set of moviegoers, women over 25. As such, it’s unlikely to gross more than $20 million.
3. The Other Guys: $18 million
I’d be looking at a 50 percent fall-off for this Will Ferrell comedy. His movies usually drop in the 45-50 percent range, and The Other Guys is unlikely to perform much differently. Still, with mid-weeks putting the film at close to $50 million, this is another Ferrell comedy destined to cross the $100 million mark.
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: $13 million
Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) has made a uniquely original movie here set in the world of video games. With Michael Cera starring and a quirky cast of supporting actors, this film should open strong. But it seems Universal Pictures has gotten cold feet, and rather than just appealing to its core audience, teenagers, it’s made its marketing campaign broad and kinda boring. As such, the audience isn’t there. Which is a shame. Perhaps they’ll come with good word of mouth, but if not, Scott Pilgrim could prove to be a costly mistake for the studio.
5. Inception: $11 million
Its box office gross has now reached $235 million and should be close to $250 million by the end of the weekend. That’s an impressive milestone, one that hopefully the movie studios will take a very close look at when green lighting future projects.
MAN-UP.
‘The Expendables’ ALL THE WAY!!
Destroy that chick flick ‘Eat,Pray,Love’. Heck, the reviews for that chick flick have been awful.
Women, go back to the kitchen and make me a sandwich.
You are strange.
You are very strange.
exceedingly strange
Stop being a man whore. I’m a woman and I have no urge to see this movie does not mean I need to go back to the kitchen but obviously you need to go back to the years when men thought they were the sh*t.
Right on. Send that chick flick right to DVD.
You’re very retarded.
I just saw, “The Expendables” at midnight Thursday! Awesome flick! Well worth it! Plenty of hardcore action, lots of laughs, and some drama as well. Women will like this flick as well!
Mmmm… sammiches….
Hilarious!
Who cares? this has been an abysmal summer for movies. With the exception of “Inception” & the latest “Toy Story” sequel, it’s been a near-complete crap-fest. I don’t care whether or not Stallone’s latest desperate bid for relevance makes more money this weekend than the latest Julia Roberts chick flick, I just want Hollywood to start making some movies that are worth buying tickets for.
I don’t mind old actors trying to recreate their status in Hollywood or even over staying their welcome, but trying to play the same role you played in your mid 20′s? Pathetic! It’s like watching another Lohan movie where she’s an innocent high school girl.
John, reserve your critique ’til you’ve seen the flick! Stallone and co. kick some major ass and all guys are in great shape!!
I went to inception and didn’t last 40 minutes . stupidest movie I have ever seen , was never so glad to be out of a theater. Bad movie unless you 10 years old I guess.
Just when i thought Micheal Cera would comeback with a hit
Oh, come on! Nobody over 14 could be interested in this overhyped movie.
Actually Cera’s usually enough to make me NOT watch.
What a lowball comment. Just as bad as saying the only people who will see Eat, Pray, Love are chicks.
Anna, the movie is about people in their 20s (Except for Knives Chau, Age: 17) and relies heavily on nostalgia for 80s video games and pop culture. Teens will like it, but I think it’s really made for people in their nostaligc 20s and 30s.
I personally am a middle-aged woman who has two movies on my must-see list…in order they are:
The Expendables
Eat, Pray, Love
Don’t discount those of us of the female variety who can’t WAIT to see our action heroes…back in action!
I actually pre-screened “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” and it was one of the best three movies I’ve seen this year (after “Toy Story 3″ and “Inception”). It’s incredibly original with visuals I’ve never seen before. And I can guarantee you the fight scenes in “Scott Pilgrim” are better than the ones in “The Expendables.”
TriciaA, personally you’re a middle-aged woman as opposed to what, who you are professionally?
Except that we’ve seen Michael Cera play this same exact character, ohh… that’s right. In everything he’s ever been in. Range, kiddo, range. You might be super talented – we just don’t know it.
Yeah, like every other comedic actor, maybe even actor, don’t play basically the same character in their first few movies. Get over yourself.
Why is it that a film about a woman’s life journey is deemed a chick flick? Sure it is about a woman, but who really cares. You would never hear anyone call Jerry Maguire for instance call it a “dude” flick.
Change that last sentence to “You would never hear anyone call Jerry Maguire, for instance, a “dude” flick. My bad for the poor grammar!
a fair point, but, unfortunately, we live in a world where men have st the staus quo, so dramas starring women=genre flick.
Jerry Maguire would be closer to a ‘chick’ flick than it would be to a ‘dude’ flick. The Expendables would fit the latter phrase better.
My thoughts exactly. No one would call ‘Jerry Maguire’ a dude flick because it was really a chick flick despite (because of?) starring Tom Cruise.
I’m not seeing the movie, but Scott Pilgrim will be making $20 million plus. It may even catch the Expendables. Michael Cera is a straight up nerd.
Mac, since neither you nor I are going to see it this weekend, look for “Scott Pilgrim” to make just about what this article predicts ($18 million). “Kick Ass” didn’t make $20 million in its first weekend, and that included Thursday night showings.
That’s too bad. Kick Ass was awesome!
“Mac, since neither you nor I are going to see it this weekend, Scott Pilgrim will make $18 million” What are you talking about? So you 2 account for the masses, and if you don’t see it no one else will?
Here is my problem with SOME chick flicks. They are so inconsiderate towards the male viewers. Male viewers that obviously went for the single reason of keeping their gf/wife company. Number 1 example: Twilight (yet again) Atleast action films add some love story or a good looking guy to keep the women somewhat entertained and less bored. Some chick flicks make you cringed throughout the whole movie, make you vomit in your mouth, bore you to death, and even make you feel like a douche. The End
“Here is my problem with SOME chick flicks. They are so inconsiderate towards the male viewers.”
They’re inconsiderate towards both genders.
This is pretty gender normative. Women only like love stories and men only like action? Men are from Mars, women are from Venus?
Uh John have you lost your mind. Action films aren’t about love. They’re about T & A and blowing up sh*t. Take the film for what is is: a bunch of old actions stars having fun. It’s not rocket science or Oscar worthy but it’s just going to be a ride. (silly folks)
That’s “action stars”
One more thing John, say what you want, but keep Twilight off your lips because not only aren’t you making any sense, The Expendables won’t come close to making Twilight’s box office.
Just enjoy the old farts on the screen, have a good time and go home. That’s what I’m going to do.
There chick flicks for a reason douche bag.
You know what’s wrong with guys they have to pick on everything that’s women oriented? Why?
Why the hell can’t women have Twilight for itself?
You guys have millions of box office films for you guys.
We don’t care go ahead and make fun of it but it’s OURS.
Leave Twilight for the women and stick to your macho kick ass movies WE DON’T CARE.
Same goes for Eat Love Pray leaves those to us and that’s why men will never understand us.
This is one of those weekends that come Monday morning every news site will be raving about how women GASP! go to the movies. Why do entertainment reporters always discount the female audience? I’ll be shocked if Eat Pray Love doesn’t dominate this weekend.
Prepare to be shocked.
The only way it does is if guys split the other movies on this list and don’t see more than one.
Why do people think the so-called female audience is only interested in movies about women? Like the male audience, some of us have varied tastes and will see all kinds of films depending upon our mood at the time.
That’s great. We’re all really proud for you. But the box office doesn’t reflect individuals or exceptions like you. It reflects broad market trends. And the fact is that “women” (the market, not you personally) see movies like Sex and the City, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Notebook, etc. Eat Pray Love was specifically made for that market. And every time one of these movies becomes a hit, the media seems shocked to discover that women make up a large market segment of moviegoers.
I’m sorry, but this particular female has NO desire whatsoever to see Eat, Pray, Love, but will definitely be going to see all the muscles and testosterone in the Expendables. EPL sounds like the most boring movie EVER; why would anyone want to see something as insipid as that? Go Stallone and the boys!
Anne Marie, you sound like my kind of woman. Good on you.
You like lesbians?
Something tells me that in this case “Anne Marie” is REALLY Stan Lee and he’s trying to bash something he doesn’t understand.
I agree- NO interest in Eat, Pray, Love either and am SUPER exited for the double feature my boyfriend and I have planned for tonight of The Expendables and Scott Pilgrim. These are 2 of the most anticipated movies of the summer for me!
I’m with you Ann Marie! I’ve always loved those boys!
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Give me a good action movie over a boring love story any day.
I’ll bee passing out free gas masks to my fellow men outside the theater for The Expendables so they don’t have to smell all the estrogen and period blood coming from all the stupid old women watching eat pray love in the theater next door. Hey ladies, there’s reruns of Golden Girls on cable all weekend… stay home and watch that crap!
I’m pretty sure you are trying to be funny/ trying to make people mad, but still. Nothing you said was funny, just extremely offensive and The Golden Girls are awesome!
Dear Matt 1, old women are low on estrogen and don’t have periods. So no worries. Love, Grandma
PS I’m looking forward to all three movies.
Sothenig tells me that Matt1 has never even seen a real woman naked let alone smelled anything related to a woman since coming out of his mom’s punani. Go ahead Matt – go see The Expendables and smell ball sweat the whole time – something tells me you are looking forward to that.
LOL.
Have fun with your left hand afterwards!
Cannot stop laughing
OMG..that has to be the most offensive comments I’ve ever seen!
I think you are over stating EPL and underestimating Scott Pilgrim
I’m more interested in seeing “Scott Pilgrim”, but it’ll definitaly be #4, meanwhile I’m expecting the numbers for The Expendables to be higher, +40 million seems more like it, women are looking forward to that movie too. As a guy though I can honestly say that I have zero interest in that movie.
I think EW is seriously underestimating Scott Pilgrim. I hope to see it beat both EPL and the Expendables. I saw an advanced screening last week, loved it, and I’m seeing it again tommorow. I’m also a huge fan of the series, but… Still, I’m hoping for the best.
I’m a geeky girl who loves beefcakes, so I’ll check out Scott Pilgrim AND the Expendables.
Eat Pray Love? Yawn.
Julia Roberts should just retire! bwahahahahaha!
EPL just looks bad. Scott Pilgrim, I probably won’t see but I do having this urge to go see Expendables. What can I say I love ripped men. I can’t wait to see Terry Crews. BTW, yes I am a woman.