Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil 2003) brings yet another comic book hero to the big screen with Ghost Rider (reviews). Nicolas Cage has the title role--ugh; Walt Disney Pictures' Bridge to Terabithia (reviews) brings the popular fantasy novel to the big screen; While Breach (reviews) is itself based on the real-life spy case of Robert Hanssen--starring Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillippe. These flicks are joining Music and Lyrics (reviews), Daddy's Little Girls (reviews) and Close to Home (reviews), all of which had a mid-week debut...
Ian Mohr of Variety, begins his weekend preview, by talking about those Wednesday openers:
Lionsgate urban-skewing comedy "Daddy's Little Girls," the latest from hyphenate Tyler Perry, got off to a good start on Valentine's Day, taking in $4.57 million off 2,111 locations for a per-playdate average of $2,167.
Perry has been a February film standout: His last pic, "Madea's Family Reunion," bowed at No. 1 just over a year ago to more than $30 million, while his left-field hit "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" surprisingly hit No. 1 with more than $21.9 million in 2005.
Warner Bros. romantic comedy "Music & Lyrics," starring Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant, was No. 2 on Wednesday as it aimed for the date crowd: Pic played to $4.15 million off more than 2,900 theaters for an average of $1,419.
Both will take on returning champion "Norbit" at the B.O. this President's Day weekend along with "Ghost Rider," "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Breach."
"Ghost Rider" is the frame's widest new rollout, gunning into 3,619 theaters in a market blitz. Sony will aim to capture mostly male action auds with the Nicolas Cage starrer about Marvel Comics character Johnny Blaze, a supernatural stunt motorcyclist.
As the frame's second widest opener, rolling out at 3,139, Disney's PG-rated kidlit adaptation "Terabithia" will try to court the "Night at the Museum" crowd.
"Night" is still playing about 2,000 locations in its eighth week and remains in the top five.
Universal will be going for more upmarket, review-driven auds with its domestic spy drama "Breach," which just played the Berlin Film Festival.
Pic comes from Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, which has international rights and rolls out via U in just under 1,500 theaters...
On the specialty circuit, the Weinstein Co. moves biopic "Factory Girl" from 18 to 336 screens. Movie has been playing well so far in limited release.
Company also opens its Oscar-nommed import "Days of Glory" in a limited run....
There's more on these weekend warriors
Meanwhile, the folks at Entertainment Weekly say that Moviegoers will get fired up for ''Ghost Rider''
Our prediction: Over the holiday weekend, expect Nic Cage's superhero flick to out-earn a heap of new releases
Of the new flicks, Rider's reviews are by far, the worst. It will be interesting to see what happens come Monday. And which movie will land in that coveted top spot.
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