This weekend, the box office will see one new release and two expansions from Oscar contenders.

Among the holdovers that will continue to be available include "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," "Into the Woods" and "Unbroken." All three films should continue to be box office hits and continue their strong runs.

The Weinstein Company will continue to play "The Imitation Game" as well as "Big Eyes." "The Gambler" and "Wild" will also continue their successful runs.

Golden Globe nominees "Birdman," "Foxcatcher," "The Theory of Everything" and "Annie" will also continue in theaters.

Warner Bros. will continuing to play "American Sniper" in limited release before expanding nationwide while A24 will expand "A Most Violent Year" into more theaters after a solid start.

However, if none of those films interest audiences there are three new wide releases.

Taken 3

The biggest release of the weekend is without a doubt the Liam Neeson starrer. The third and final installment continues the story of Ex-government operative Bryan Mills. This time he is accused of a ruthless murder he never committed or witnessed. As he is tracked and pursued, Mills brings out his particular set of skills to find the true killer and clear his name. The movie also stars Forest Whitaker and Maggie Grace and is expected to be yet another box office hit. The first two films have grossed over $280 million domestically. "Taken 3" has scored mixed reviews but it is still tracking well. Pundits expect it to make well over $25 million on opening weekend.

Selma

After two weeks in limited release, Paramount will finally expand the film in wide release. Starring David Oyelowo and directed by Ava DuVernay, "Selma" chronicles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. The movie has scored rave reviews and is nominated by four Golden Globes. The movie is expected to be a huge Oscar contender even though it missed the Producers Guild nominations. Based on its first two weekends, the movie is also slated to be a big hit at the box office and many expect it to open over the $20 million mark.

Inherent Vice

After four weeks in theaters, Warner Bros will finally expand Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film.

The movie is based on Thomas Pynchon's novel and tells the story of Los Angeles detective Larry "Doc" Sportello who investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend. The film has a massive cast that is led by Joaquin Phoenix. While reviews are positive, "Inherent Vice" has had a hard time in limited release. The film's confusing plot and lengthy running time have dissuaded audiences from seeing it. Additionally, it has not been the Oscar contender most expected it would be. Warner Bros. originally intended to expand the film into more than 1,000 theaters, but, after the subpar limited release, the film will only open in 400 theaters.

Beloved Sisters

Music Box Films will unveil the festival hit based on the life of Frederich Schiller.

The German film, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, tells the story of aristocratic sisters Charlotte and Caroline who both fall in love with the controversial young writer and hothead Friedrich Schiller. The film scored rave reviews out of the festival circuit and became Germany's submission for the Academy Awards. However, the film's failure to make the shortlist and the running time will definitely limit the audience that ends up seeing it. The film will most likely benefit when it is release on VOD and DVD.


Also in theaters this weekend is Big World Pictures' latest "It's All So Quiet."

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