Don’t surprised if there is a Sig Alert at the box office this weekend.
A slew of new films are opening nationwide — including The Judge, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall, origin pic Dracula Untold, family film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day — and all are tracking to open in the same range (mid- to high teens). Addicted, a thriller targeting African-American audiences, also rolls out, although in fewer theaters.
David Fincher‘s Gone Girl, which opened to an impressive $37.5 million last weekend for 20th Century Fox and New Regency, could easily stay at No. 1, considering strong word-of-mouth and brisk midweek business (the movie will jump the $50 million mark sometime on Thursday). That is, unless one of the other movies pops and outperforms tracking, which has been unreliable as of late.
Gone Girl could make life tough for courtroom drama The Judge, since both are going after adults. Downey has plenty riding on the movie, the first title from Team Downey, the production company he runs with his wife, Susan. Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures made the $50 million film, which opens in 3,003 locations and also stars Vera Farmiga. Downey, known the world over for his blockbuster Iron Man franchise, has tirelessly campaigned for The Judge.
Read more Robert Downey Jr. on What He Loves About His ‘The Judge’ Role
In New York and Los Angeles, both The Judge and Gone Girl will have to compete with Chernin Entertainment’s adult dramedy St. Vincent, starring Bill Murray opposite Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd and Naomi Watts. The Weinstein Co. is rolling the film out in four theaters. And Focus Features’ adult drama Kill the Messenger, starring Jeremy Renner, debuts in 374 theaters in select markets. The other high-profile specialty opening is Whiplash, although Miles Teller, starring as a young jazz drummer who attends a top music school, should help lure a younger crowd. Sony Pictures Classics opens the critically acclaimed film in six theaters in L.A. and New York.
Dracula Untold, from Universal and Legendary Pictures, hopes to sink its teeth into male moviegoers. It could also overperform among Hispanics, considering the movie’s strong debut in Latin America last weekend. Dracula Untold, opening in 2,885 North American theaters, also should see boost from Imax and large-format runs.
Costing $70 million to make but lacking any big names, Dracula Untold, part of Universal’s campaign to revitalize its monster universe, chronicles the transformation of Vlad the Impaler (Luke Evans) into the world’s most notorious vampire. Gary Shore make his feature directorial debut on the pic produced by Michael De Luca.
Read more ‘Dracula Untold’ Stars Fete Their Historically-Based Vampire Tale Without “Forbidden Love”
Very Bad Day, playing in 3,088 locations, is the weekend’s only new family offering, a potential advantage if it clicks with audiences. The $28 million Disney title, based on Judith Viorst‘s 1972 children’s book about a family suffering a horrible day, stars Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner and Ed Oxenbould. Disney produced the movie with 21 Laps and The Jim Henson Company.
Lionsgate and Codeblack partnered on Addicted, a thriller about a successful businesswoman (Sharon Leal) who embarks on a series of affairs. The film, opening in 846 theaters, also stars Boris Kodjoe and cost less than $5 million to make.
Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m. A previous version of this incorrectly stated the producers of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. THR regrets the error.
