Box Office Preview 2014: Angelina Jolie 'Malificent' to Dominate; Seth Macfarlane's Western to Flop
"Maleficent" is expected to crush "A Million Ways to Die in the West" this weekend at the box office.
The new Disney live action flick is on pace to hit $60 million over the weekend. Disney is slated to release the movie in 3,948 theaters with the majority of them being in 3D screens. The film marks the first feature for Angelina Jolie in three years and it is also on track to be the best opening for the actress in a live action movie. Jolie's current highest opening is 2008's "Wanted," which opened with $50 million. However, that movie was rated R and was not family-friendly. "Maleficent" will easily attract family audiences, especially fans of the original "Sleeping Beauty" movie. While the opening will benefit Jolie's box office track record, it will be below Disney's recent live action films. In 2010, "Alice in Wonderland" opened with $116 million while last year's "Oz: The Great and Powerful" opened with $79 million. Like these two films, "Malificent" has scored mixed reviews and currently has 52 percent aggregate score. Still, that should not hurt its chances of attracting large groups of female audiences and families, especially with schools being already on summer break.
"X-Men: Days of Future Past" should hold on but is likely to have 50 to 60 percent drop. The superhero flick has had good word of mouth and received rave reviews. "X-Men" has already made $124 million and is likely to add another $40 million to its gross. That would put the film's total at $164 million.
The other release of the weekend is "A Million Ways to Die in the West," directed by Seth Macfarlane. The movie, which was produced for $40 million and stars Macfarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried and Neil Patrick Harris, has received negative reviews, with critics complaining of it being overlong and aimless. The movie currently has a 34 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes and that could harm the film's total box office. While Universal scored a huge success with "Neighbors," the studio may find it a bit difficult to attract the audience, especially with so many tentpoles in the market including "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," "Godzilla" and "X-Men." Universal will bow the R-rated flick in 3,152 theaters and is expecting to open with a soft $25 million.
In its third weekend "Godzilla" is expected to continue plummeting. After having a disappoint second weekend, the monster film is likely to add another $15 million to its box office. That would bring its gross to $175 million.
In its second weekend, the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore starrer "Blended" is unlikely to hold on, especially with the Macfarlane comedy western being released. "Blended" scored terrible reviews and with no word of mouth it is likely to end its second weekend with $7 million.
In art house cinemas Cinedigm will release the festival hit "Night Moves." The company will release the drama in two theaters and hopes to gain the same success it had last year with "Short Term 12." The 2013 flick became the highest grossing Cinedigm release ever released. While that film did not have recognizable faces at the time, "Night Moves" could benefit from a prestigious director Kelly Reichert as well as an all star cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, and Peter Saarsgard. The Indie picture premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals and has obtained rave reviews.
Meanwhile, Magnolia will release the raunchy drama "Filth." The movie has benefited from solid reviews especially for star James McAvoy's performance. However, Magnolia has already released the film on demand and is unlikely to give it a huge theatrical push. Nevertheless, the movie could benefit from McAvoy's current popularity in "X-Men."
The weekend will also see the expansion of Open Road's "Chef." The movie has already made $4.7 million. The Jon Favreau comedy will expand into 624 theaters and is likely to make $2 million over the weekend.
The Weinstein Company will also expand "The Immigrant" into 150 theaters. The Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner starrer has over-performed, especially since the company gave it a low marketing push. The movie could reach the $1 million mark this upcoming weekend if word of mouth is still high.
Fox Searchlight will also expand "Belle" into 525 theaters. The period drama has already made $4.7 million at the box office and will likely add another $2 million this weekend.
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