After pleasing the ladies in The Ugly Truth, Gerard Butler [GBUTL] returns the favor for guys with Gamer [CGAME]. The R-rated action film is set in a future where game players control real people in a multi-player first person shooter tournament. Lionsgate has had success this weekend appealing to male moviegoers, usually with films starring Jason Statham [JSTAT]. In his first pure action film since 300, Butler should be able to command $19 million from 2502 venues over the long holiday weekend.
3D screens should help The Final Destination [FDES4] from suffering too steep of a drop-off. The horror sequel could generate another $14 million over the four day weekend. The long holiday weekend should bring out more adults to check out heavily buzzed Inglourious Basterds [BSTRD]. The Quentin Tarantino [QTARA] film could hack away with another $13 million.
Sandra Bullock [SBULL] returns with her second romantic comedy of the summer, All About Steve [ABSTV]. Knowing it’s second-rate to her top moneymaker The Proposal, Fox has shifted the marketing focus instead to Bradley Cooper [BCOOP], hoping to get some rub off The Hangover. Stalking 2251 locations, the PG-13 rated comedy may restrain just $12 million over the Labor Day weekend.
A decade after Office Space, director Mike Judge [MJUDG] returns with another workplace comedy Extract [EXTRC]. Although Jason Bateman [JBATE] and Ben Affleck [BAFFL] are recognizable stars, the target audience for a smart, R-rated film is a rather small population. Opening in just 1611 theaters, Extract could wring out maybe $9 million.
Halloween 2 [H2] looks to deteriorate rapidly from the scene. The horror sequel could trick another $8 million in admissions from patrons.
That’s the whisper from the trading floor.
Tag(s): GBUTL, CGAME, JSTAT, FDES4, BSTRD, QTARA, SBULL, ABSTV, BCOOP, MJUDG, EXTRC, JBATE, BAFFL, H2