Looking at this weekend's new releases, I think there's only one film that could possibly de-throne 300 as the number one flick, by Monday morning...
The Déjà Vu-like thriller Premonition (reviews) brings Sandra Bullock back to theaters; Dead Silence (reviews) is the latest horror-fest from the creators of the SAW trilogy; Comedian Chris Rock takes a humorous look at marriage in I Think I Love My Wife (reviews) Anchor Bay Entertainment gets a shot at the big time with Behind The Mask-The Rise of Leslie Vernon (reviews) a mock-u-mentary about the horror genre....Nomad (The Warrior) (reviews) starts a limited run going wider March 30th: And lastly, Ken Loach's award winning Wind That Shakes The Barley (reviews) with Cillian Murphy finally opens in the states.
As a trio, Ian Mohr, Dave McNary, and Darcy Paquet of Variety ask:
Just how much will "300" conquer this weekend?
After an surprisingly strong bow last weekend, the B.O. phenom expands to 3,270.
Pic has been picking up solid midweek biz after its first frame to raise cume to more than $85 million. Zack Snyder's f/x-heavy depiction of the ancient battle of Thermopylae gutted more than $7.6 million at the B.O. on Monday alone.
Highest-grossing second weekend for an R-rated pic ever is $53 million for "The Passion of the Christ."
Sony supernatural thriller "Premonition," Universal's "Dead Silence" and Fox Searchlight comedy "I Think I Love My Wife" all have the unenviable task of battling the box office behemoth.
Second-weekend perf on "300" surely will sap ducats from any competish. However, when one movie is this hot, it tends to drag others behind it: Sellouts leave auds searching for other theaters to fill at the multiplex, and, industry pros say, a positive experience at the movies keeps the public coming back for more.
Last weekend "300" hit hard, but so did holdovers from Disney ("Wild Hogs," "Bridge to Terabithia") and others.
Even smaller pics were popping, albeit at more earthbound levels, including Samuel Goldwyn/Roadside Attractions' "Amazing Grace," U's "Breach" and Searchlight's Mira Nair pic "The Namesake," which averaged a whopping $41,425 per theater from six locations.
But the weekend potential for "300" is running high as rabid fans have already begun returning for repeat viewings. Curious auds outside the fanboy (and girl) demo should help the testosterone-drenched war pic cross over further.
Meanwhile, Sony will roll with "Premonition," starring Sandra Bullock as a woman who keeps reliving the day her husband dies. Pic hits 2,831 theaters and could find a female-skewing base thanks to Bullock.
Movie also an advantage as the only PG-13 pic in a frame with so many new R-rated rollouts.
Universal will try to woo the horror crowd with "Dead Silence," the low-budget creepfest from "Saw" helmer James Wan and Twisted Pictures, the production unit behind the "Saw" franchise.
For the comedy crowd uninterested in bulging muscles or scares, Chris Rock's second directorial effort, "I Think I Love My Wife," will roll out via Searchlight in 1,776 theaters...
The complete article can be found right here...
In his latest weekend preview, Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly says:
March Madness weekend kicks off with the charged-up Spartans defeating ''Wild Hogs'' and all newcomers...
While I also think 300 will be tops for the second week in a row...The only film that might have a shot at defeating it is Dead Silence with its targeted teen audience in tow...
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