The weekend after Labor Day is typically slow at the box office as folks head back to school and work. This year looks to be one of the worse in recent memories as two new wide releases open with little buzz. CBS Films has slotted the drama The Words [WORDS] starring Bradley Cooper [BCOOP] as an author who stole someone else’s work and then must pay the price for his unearned success. Cooper opened Limitless to $18.9 million in March 2011, but that film had a what-if angle to hook in audiences. No one fantasizes about plagiarism. Opening 2801 theaters, The Words may punch out $7.5 million, which could be enough to tka ethe box office crown.
The Possession [TPOSN] performed better than expected in its opening, but as with most horror films, looks to fall heavily in its second weekend. A 60% drop to $7 million could contend for first place. The action drama Lawless [LWLES] should hold better at about 50% for $5 million.
Despite starring in last year’s The Immortals and next year’s Man of Steel, Henry Cavill [HCAVI]’s thriller The Cold Light of Day [TCOLD] arrives in 1511 theaters with no marketing support. Perhaps its new owner Lionsgate felt the spy thriller was too similar to their 2011 release Abduction. The Cold Light of Day may stumble upon $2 million.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): WORDS, BCOOP, TPOSN, LWLES, HCAVI, TCOLD