In what's more or less a calm before the storm that is November (see: Potter, Harry) and December (see: Rings, The Lord of the), October starts off with a film guaranteed to shatter the record opening for the month, but after that, there isn't really a whole lot to write home about.
10. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Okay, the video series has done fairly well. But the Left Behind books were also best sellers. With a very wide release it could do okay, but otherwise it'll have a better life on video than it does in theaters.
9. Knockaround Guys
Any other movie with an October 11th release date could really fill this spot. But this one has sat around long enough, I guess New Line thinks that since everyone knows who Vin Diesel is now that it might actually make a few bucks. They thought wrong.
8. Jackass: The Movie
From the It's So Incredibly Stupid It Just Might Work Department. I like it when people willingly do bodily harm to themselves for my personal enjoyment. Like so many other films this month, if it's given the chance (and some decent marketing), it could be a sleeper.
7. Formula 51
While they're advertising the heck of out this, Samuel L. Jackson is only one man. Yes, he's a very cool man, but he may not be able to single-handedly sell this film.
6. Below
From the maker of Pitch Black. Cool. Written by Darren Aronofsky. Double cool. Haunted submarine. Uh-oh. July's K-19 disappointed majorly, but this doesn't have nearly as high expectations, and the writing/directing team can certainly produce a quality film.
5. Tuck Everlasting
For reasons I can't figure out, I kept wanting to compare this movie to My Dog Skip. I only knew the basic premise of the film. Turns out the two productions share the same director. Neat. This is what it is: A little film aimed squarely at teenage females and older fans of the book. Alexis Bledel probably has more dialogue in one episode of Gilmore Girls than she will in this entire movie.
4. The Ring
Isn't this kind of similar to that feardotcom flop? I guess it is, but it's directly based on a Japanese film that has already inspired a sequel and prequel. DreamWorks is clearly hoping to start a new franchise. The premise is intriguing (as was feardotcom's, just a few years too late), and the marketing blitz is just beginning, so it can certainly make a mark on the box office, perhaps for years to come.
3. The Transporter
Even though about 47 movies are being released on October 11th, this one stands the best chance of coming out on top (but will take second place to Red Dragon). It looks to offer the action that Ecks vs. Sever didn't. The sudden bump in release date two weeks before it was supposed to open is a little alarming, but it may have actually helped boost the total box office. Have we mentioned how cool that PeepholeCam is?
2. Ghost Ship
This year's winner of the Horror Film Released Around Halloween Sweepstakes. From what I've seen, it stands a chance of actually being a decent film, too. But if nothing else, it'll be way stylish. From the same production company as last year's Thir13en Ghosts and 1999's House on Haunted Hill, this one should also have a similar opening.
1. Red Dragon
With a $58 million opening, Hannibal obliterated the February record last year, and Red Dragon looks to do the same for October. The key to the whole thing remains Anthony Hopkins. Without Hannibal Lecter, it doesn't make $10 million upon opening. With him, the sky is the limit. I find the ads unimpressive, but I said the same thing about Hannibal. I'm not making the same mistake twice.