Pamela McClintock of THR
The number of wide releases opening this weekend at the domestic box office slows down to two titles: 20th Century Fox’s sequel Diary of a Wimpy sKid: Rodrick Rules and Zack Snyder’s action-fantasy Sucker Punch from Warner Bros.
Tracking suggests the films could end up in a close race, although some give Rodrick Rules an advantage since it’s a kids film. Best estimates show both movies opening north of $20 million, although Fox puts the weekend gross for its film more in the mid-teens.
Rodrick Rules, based on the best-selling book series, is a budding franchise for Fox that particularly appeals to boys ages 7-12. Fox, like other studios, hopes to capitalize on more and more kids being out of school for spring break.
The original Diary of a Wimpy Kid, opening a year ago, opened to $22.1 million on its way to $64 million at the domestic box office. Overseas, the movie grossed another $11.7. The film was a modest financial success for Fox, since it cost only $15 million to produce.
Rodrick Rules, costing $18 million to produce and rated PG, sees the return of the original cast but was directed by David Bowers (Flushed Away, Astro Boy) instead of Thor Freudenthal.
Sucker Punch is Snyder’s third film for Warners and cost $75 million to produce. The movie, rated PG-13, is an action film with a twist: The ensemble cast is made up of young women Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jenna Malone, Vanessa Hudgens and Jamie Chung.
According to tracking, Sucker Punch is drawing the most interest from young males under the age of 25, followed by older men and younger females. The movie enjoyed a last-minute bump in tracking, a good sign for Warners.
In the film — written by Steve Shibuya and Snyder — a young girl is institutionalized after she loses her mother and her sister is killed. In danger of being lobotomized, she and group of girls decide to escape. But for their plan to work, they must first enter an alternate reality — named the “brothel world” — where they will find the clues they need to win freedom.
Since before Christmas, teenagers have been missing in action from the multiplex. Sucker Punch hopes to reverse that trend.
Snyder’s next outing as director is Superman: Man of Steel.
Elsewhere, Relativity Media’s Limitless, Lionsgate’s The Lincoln Lawyer and Universal’s sci-fi comedy Paul enter their second weekend. Two other holdovers, Battle: Los Angeles and Rango, also are expected to remain strong contenders...
John Young of EW asks
Will 'Sucker Punch' knock out 'Wimpy Kid'?
Wish the reviews for Kid 2 were better...The first Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a real gem....As for Sucker--The look of it seems to be eye-popping. Will that help translate to success?
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