This month sure is different from May. I see three, maybe four, big
box office movies this time around. The numbers should drop off quite
steadily after those top three. The big winner should be a comic
book-based film with a bunch of sequels lying in wait. Let’s get to
the Top 10:
1. The Hulk
Comic books seem to have the reputation as a kid’s format or only for
geeks. Everyone seems to put aside these notions when it comes to box
office number, however. The CGI main character should rake in the big
bucks when this film is released on the 20th. We’ve been getting
longer and longer sneak peeks at this film for about a year. I think
the studio has picked a good marketing strategy and they are releasing
this film at the height of public interest.
2. Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle
Hot babes. Martial arts. Intrigue. Adventure. First film big at the
box office. It all adds up to an exciting sequel. People loved the
idea of the popular TV show of the 1970s and it carried over to big
numbers for the first movie. The combination was there and the studio
has brought it all back together again for the sequel. This film will
not disappoint its fans.
3. Hollywood Homicide
Harrison Ford = success. Josh Hartnett = success. Combine them in a
“buddy film” and you can’t miss, right? I think so. There’s been a
big marketing push for this film for about six weeks before its
release. You’ve got two of the most popular actors in film today and
it looks like they have some on-screen chemistry. This movie should
overshadow its “competition” on opening weekend.
4. 2 Fast 2 Furious
This is where I see the drop-off taking place in box office numbers. I
don’t know how many people realize that Vin Diesel isn’t in this
follow-up to the original 2002 movie. I think you may see a pretty
decent opening on this one, but then a HUGE drop-off in numbers.
Unless this film can stand on its own, the studio is going to be
extremely disappointed.
5. Rugrats Go Wild!
Two popular Nickelodeon TV shows come together in this movie – Rugrats
and The Wild Thornberrys. Will these two television powerhouses add up
to success at the box office? The studio should be pretty happy with
this one. It should also have pretty good legs like many kids/family
films. And don’t forget Bruce Willis as Spike the dog.
6. Alex and Emma
For those members of the viewing public that aren’t going to want to
see The Hulk, the studio offers this alternative. A romantic comedy
about an author and his assistant who fall in love, just like the
characters in the book he is writing. Isn’t that sweet? It will get
lost under The Hulk’s huge box office muscle, but should do fairly
decent for those who just can’t get into green muscle-bound guys.
7. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
This one sounds a lot like 2 Fast 2 Furious. There’s no Jim Carrey –
he’s too busy being God. There’s no Jeff Daniels – not sure what he’s
too busy doing. The studio wrote a script, found out they weren’t
going to get Carrey and Daniels, got a couple of guys who look like
they MIGHT be Carrey and Daniels when they were younger, and now
they’re hoping for the best. This is going to be ugly at the box
office, folks.
8. Prozac Nation
The oft-delayed Christina Ricci mov... What?! It’s moved again?!
...Sorry, guys. We’ll try this again later in the year.
9. From Justin to Kelly
No one really wants to see this, do they? Didn’t anyone learn from
that Cancun spring break film? Reality television doesn’t play well on
the big screen.
10. 28 Days Later
Was anyone really clamoring for a sequel to the Sandra Bullock drug
rehab movie? There has to be some kind of contractual issue related to
this release. I just can’t see this doing well at all.
