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The Brave One

Say what you want about Jodie Foster, she has become one of the most consistent box office performers of the decade. With Panic Room and Flight Plan, Foster has proved that the gravitas she brings to her roles work really well in these lone wolf type thrillers. Unfortunately, The Brave One lacks the appeal of those two films and seems to be a much darker project. However, this revenge tale looks genuinely suspenseful and looks to deliver on its modest but effective marketing campaign.
$10 million opening, $30 million total



September 21st

Good Luck Chuck

Is having the greatest poster in movie history enough to make your movie a hit? If you're not sure what poster I am talking about, then the answer is obviously no.

Having Jessica Alba in your movie is huge positive that might only be offset by the huge negative of having Dane Cook in your movie. Cook is as vanilla as you can get and absolutely needs a Jessica Alba in any film he does (or most recently, a Jessica Simpson). The fact that the trailer really does not reflect the movie synopsis is worrisome but apparently, some people like Cook and want to pay money to see him, so who am I to argue?

Alba makes this film slightly intriguing but she can't distract from the fact that it looks like another tame romantic comedy. Good luck, Good Luck Chuck.
$10 million open, $25 million total

Resident Evil: Extinction

When they title of the latest Resident Evil movie was announced, my reaction was "Oh god, let's hope so." Really? People want this? Apparently yes and they want it in bunches.

I have to admit, I think Extinction looks more promising than its predecessor, a sequel that looked so much like the original, you could barely tell they made a new movie. Changing the general setting of the movie is a perfect move that should pay off. This movie will be successful but not so successful that it will warrant a Resident Evil: Reincarnation.
$22 million open, $65 million total


September 28th

The Game Plan

Rock, please, please, please, go back to wrestling. Seriously. Or get a better agent. Or both...yes, both. Yes, the trailer is awful. Well, the first time around it was. Upon second and third viewings it does not completely suck, just mostly.

Sadly, this should find an audience. The Rock is sort of a name, at least when he plays a role like this. The film also looks sappy, ridiculous and - or maybe BUT - it also looks kid-friendly. I'm undecided on this. You couldn't pay me enough to see it but I have a feeling it will be one of those movies that catches most prognosticators by surprise.
$18 million opening, $55 million total

The Kingdom

You have to hand it to Peter Berg. The actor turned director is great at producing some really interesting looking films that look much more expensive than they actually are. This is the case with The Kingdom, a movie that should be a Tier II film, yet looks like a Tier I summer blockbuster.

Of course, you have to more than just look like a blockbuster to be one. While The Kingdom should see some relative success, both the release date and subject matter should prove to be a hindrance at the box office. Any thriller that seems to demand that the audience member think beyond the next big explosion is always in danger of completely missing the mark.

What doesn't help is the lack of real star power on this flick. I have never been and never will be a believer in Jamie Foxx's status as a star and The Kingdom could very well be the nail in his coffin. Jennifer Garner is a marginal box office draw at best, though I am a big fan.

Again, I am seriously on the fence with this, though in very different way from my feelings about The Game Plan. The Kingdom should be the biggest film opening in September but I have a feeling that the audience for this movie is not really there.
$14 million opening, $38 million total

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