Steven Strait And FriendPamela McClintock of Variety:
[The] prehistoric adventure "10,000 BC" is looking to hunt down some big game at the worldwide box office, with Warner Bros. banking both on Emmerich's track record and the studio's success with Zack Snyder's ancient-Greek war epic "300" on the same weekend last year.
Domestically, the film will have no trouble taking the weekend crown as it unspools in 3,410 theaters. Ultimately, it's likely to do equally well -- if not better -- overseas, where auds have lapped up similar fare.
Also opening wide Stateside are Disney's G-rated Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symone family comedy "College Road Trip," which is expected to do solid business as it opens in 2,706. Elsewhere, older males are showing interest in Roger Donaldson's crime suspense "The Bank Job," which Lionsgate is taking out in 1,603. ...
Most of Hollywood will be keeping their eyes on "10,000 BC," the latest big-budget f/x spectacle from Emmerich, who enjoyed box office hits with pics such as "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Independence Day."
New movie revolves around a hunter who discovers a lost civilization while pursuing a warlord who has kidnapped his wife.
Pic isn't expected to match the domestic opening of "300" -- which grossed $70.9 million in its first weekend -- but anything above $40 million would be a big win for Warners; last year, no one foresaw that "300" would do such big business. That movie grossed $210.6 million domestically and $245.4 million overseas.
Only three films have opened to more than $40 million in March: "300," "Ice Age: The Meltdown" ($68 million) and "Ice Age" ($46.3 million).
Many of Emmerich's films have seen a large slice of their worldwide box office gross come from overseas. "Day After Tomorrow" grossed $186.7 million in North America and $356 million internationally. Will Smith starrer "Independence Day" grossed $306.2 million domestically and $510.8 million overseas.
Warners and Emmerich are relying on special effects and action, rather than big stars, to draw in moviegoers. Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis and Joel Virgel star in the film.
Disney is certainly counting on fans of Lawrence and Raven-Symone, a favorite among tweens, to buy tickets to "College Road Trip," about a bumbling father who takes his daughter to visit colleges. The Mouse House pic should also be an African-American family draw because of its friendly G rating (most of Lawrence's films have been rated PG or PG-13).
Tracking for "Road Trip" shows strong interest among girls and women under age 25.
Forecasters expect the "Road Trip" opening to be on par with that of Lawrence's last film, "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins," which bowed last month to a $16.2 million opening. To date, film has cumed $39 million.
Lionsgate has modest expectations for "Bank Job," which stars Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows. Film is based on the real-life story of thieves who tunneled their way into a London bank and stole cases of jewelry. The precise valuables taken were never revealed, with the British government issuing a press gag order.
"Bank Job" is expected to gross about $6 million...
Joshua Rich of EW:
It's opening the same weekend the record-shattering ''300'' did last year, but don't expect the prehistoric action flick to do nearly as well..
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It's clear from all of the footage I have seen that B.C. so desperately wants to be the next 300 that it turned me right away...Maybe that's unfair but fact is fact. Bank Job is doing very well with the critics...And while there's been many heist flicks over the years--the film looks better than the prehistoric free-for-all by about 10,000%
Next Week: You should Never Back Down-even as you prepare for Doomsday; And Horton Hears A Who
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