Pamela McClintock of Variety:
After a fall in which auds avoided movie theaters like so many Scrooges, Hollywood is counting on Warner Bros.' Will Smith starrer "I Am Legend" and 20th Century Fox's live-action/CGI hybrid "Alvin and the Chipmunks" to usher in a merry holiday season as they debut at the domestic box office this weekend.
And for those wanting to sing a different tune at the multiplex on Saturday, the Metropolitan Opera begins its second season simulcasting live performances in digital high-def to more than 300 commercial theaters across the U.S., as well as more than 100 theaters in Canada and roughly 200 abroad. Saturday's opera is Gounod's "Romeo and Juliette."
"Legend" bows in 3,606 theaters. Pic marks the third time that Richard Matheson's classic 1954 sci-fi tome has been adapted for the bigscreen after "The Last Man on Earth," starring Vincent Price, and "The Omega Man," toplining Charlton Heston.
Tracking suggests "Legend" could be one of the biggest openers of the fall, possibly crossing the $40 million mark. Francis Lawrence directed "Legend" from an adapted script by Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman.
"Alvin," which opens in 3,475 theaters, brings to the bigscreen the trouble-causing singing chipmunks that began as a musical recording group before adaptation into a TV cartoon series. Pic, directed by Tim Hill, helmer of Fox's "Garfield" franchise, stars Jason Lee. According to tracking, it could play more broadly than a typical family-friendly film and attract all age groups.
Except for a weekend or two, box office has been consistently running behind that of last fall. Expectations are that "Legend" and "Alvin" should result in a strong weekend for the B.O.
One wild card: A strong winter storm predicted for parts of the Northeast could have an impact on B.O., according to distrib execs...
Read about other limited opening pics...
Nicole Sperling of EW says:
''I Am Legend'' to stand alone...
No doubt. I'm sure Legend's holiday haul will be huge!
Next week: Hilary Swank reads Gerard Butler's love letters in PS I Love You...
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