Image Credit: Lorey SebastianAs we bid adieu to 2010, Hollywood is here to help you celebrate with, well, pretty much the same exact films from last week. As is customary for the weekend after Christmas, there are no new wide releases. Instead, audiences will have to settle with checking out those movies they’ve missed for one reason or another. Due to last weekend’s east-coast blizzard, and the fact that many folks may have avoided the multiplex on Friday and Saturday due to Christmas festivities, I’m guessing there will be a lot of catch-up action this weekend. Some movies may even see their earnings jump this frame, particularly films geared toward children, while True Grit and Little Fockers will battle it out for first-place bragging rights. I’m leaning toward a True Grit victory — it’s much more well-liked than Fockers — but it’s looking like it could be a photo finish. My predictions:
1. True Grit: $24.5 million
The Coen Brothers’ oater ode galloped off with an impressive $24.9 million last weekend — the directing duo’s largest opening ever. I expect the PG-13 Western will lasso about the same amount this weekend, too. For one thing, a lot of people dig the movie. It has already debuted on IMDb’s Top 250 Movies list, and CinemaScore moviegoers handed it a “B+” grade. Also, True Grit is drawing a predominantly older audience (70 percent is at least 25 years old), and that’s the type of crowd that doesn’t necessarily rush out to the theater the second a movie opens. Thus, many fans of the original 1969 film (or Westerns in general) will be getting around to seeing True Grit this weekend. And some folks, I suspect, will already be visiting the flick for the second time. For instance, my baby-boomer parents thought True Grit was the strongest film they’ve seen in ages, and, naturally, my parents’ opinion can be scientifically extrapolated to represent the tastes of the entire nation. Don’t let me down, Mom and Dad.
2. Little Fockers: $23.5 million
This $100 million threequel topped the box office last weekend with a sturdy, but somewhat disappointing, $30.8 million. CinemaScore audiences gave it a mediocre “B-” grade, and critics tore the film apart quicker than Santa’s Little Helper demolished the Simpsons’ family quilt. Meet the Fockers opened the same weekend in 2004 and proceeded to slip 10 percent its second weekend. Little Fockers should fall more than that — I’m guessing almost 25 percent.
3. TRON: Legacy: $17 million
The cycles weren’t kind to TRON: Legacy, as Disney’s $170 million sci-fi epic shrank 57 percent Christmas weekend. But with no new wide releases, this may continue to be the film of choice for families itching for that big 3-D experience. A decline of just over 10 percent seems about right.
4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: $10.5 million
This third Narnia movie dropped only 24 percent last weekend. As is the case with TRON and Yogi Bear, families may be desperate to get out of the house this weekend, and the PG-rated Dawn Treader is one of the few destinations suitable for little kids. A 10 percent bump would push the $140 million fantasy movie to a four-week tally of about $87 million.
5. Yogi Bear: $9 million
The PG live-action/animation hybrid has so far underperformed for Warner Bros., but again, the kids are still at home and Yogi Bear shoots a worm out of his nose — in 3-D! That has to amount to something, right? Say, a 15 percent jump.
Also, two films opened Wednesday in limited release: the formerly-NC-17-but-now-R-rated drama Blue Valentine, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and Mike Leigh’s British drama Another Year. The two Oscar-hopefuls debuted in four and six theaters, respectively.
The bright spot for 2011 will be spared any movies with Marky Mark.
^^^
“The bright spot for 2011 will be spared any movies with Marky Mark.”
That doesn’t even make sense. Get off Facestalk and Twit-ard and go learn how to talk properly. I bet your parents are ashamed of you. Go practice writing more, you moron!!
moron
It’s gonna be 2011, not 1991. He stopped being Marky Mark by the time Boogie Nights happened. Jealous, dude?
^^^
“The bright spot for 2011 will be spared any movies with Marky Mark.”
That doesn’t even make sense. Get off Facestalk and Twit-ard and go learn how to talk properly. I bet your parents are ashamed of you. Go practice writing more, you moron.
EW writer John Young writes:
“and critics tore the film apart quicker than Santa’s Little Helper demolished the Simpsons’ family quilt.”
YOU are NOT funny. That was a STUPID and CHEAP reference to which most people will NOT get. Just report the news and stop trying to be witty or funny because you clearly do NOT possess BOTH qualities. You are a disgrace to journalism.
Actually, we did get it and it was hilarious.
I laughed when I read it
Larry David’s at it again!
Don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to watch Black Swan, again!
Going for the third time this weekend … can’t wait!
I’ve seen it four times… I’m trying not to see it a 5th time…but I don’t know…
I saw The Fighter last night, and it was terrific. Christian Bale and Melissa Leo both deserve Oscars. I’ll probably go see Tron: Legacy on sunday, and then will hopefully find time to see True Grit, The King’s Speech, and Black Swan.
You’d have to be a publicist for Universal to consider the opening for Little Fockers “sturdy.”
I’m thinking it’s going to be a huge weekend at the box office if there are no major snowstorms. I saw The Fighter today at a matinee and the theater was 3/4 full. The line coming into the theater as we exited was jammed as well. There must be alot of people on holiday and in good spirits. The audience actually clapped and cheered at the end of the picture. Rarely do films move people that much. Still, I think True Grit is the best picture I’ve seen this year. And I was totally ready to see Jeff Bridges and/or Matt Damon walk away with best actor/supporting actor Oscars. After seeing Christian Bale’s performance, every actor in a 2010 movie has to take a bow down to him. He owned that role like Heath Ledger owned the role of The Joker in the film, Dark Knight. And I hope the Academy Awards reward the actress that portrayed his mom as well.
Meh, I wasn’t a huge fan of “True Grit.” The film was good, but not great. I wouldn’t put among my top 10 of the year.
“Meh” is for a-holes.
Who are you to judge?
LOL is for 12 year old girls or for adult douchebags.
true grit was fantastic and mark wahlberg is great
I loved “The King’s Speech.” It is very moving. Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter were all wonderful and the theater I saw it in was full. Highly recommend.
I hate myself.
The Fighter was fantastic and worth a second viewing in my opinion. So I might just watch it again this weekend.
I want to see Black Swan & The King’s Speech while they’re in the theaters. As for Little Fockers, I’ll wait ’til it’s on DVD – I’m sure it’ll be just as funny there.
So, it still won’t be funny at all on DVD?
Zing!
I’m going to see True Grit – a second time – tomorrow. It’s the best movie this year for me. Second is Unstoppable and Joan River’s documentary.
actually the blizzard shouldn’t have had THAT much of an impact on the box office since the snow didn’t really hit new england until sunday. whatever. true grit was awesome but that poor little girl must have been savagely beaten with the ugly stick as an infant.
Way to make idiotic snap judgments. Go look at a few photos of “that poor little girl” when she’s not done up as her movie character.