Three new films enter the box office fray, but none will dethrone Beauty and the Beast [BTATB]. The live-action remake is likely to be frontloaded by fans of the animated classic during its record-setting debut. Beauty and the Beast may drop more than 50% in its second weekend to $85 million.
Saban reboots Power Rangers [MMPR] from the long-running children’s TV series "Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers", which last appeared in theaters in 1997. Modern CG special effects have replaced the Japanese men in rubber suits, and a family series has been turned into a PG-13 rated sci-fi franchise starter. Lionsgate has ran a long marketing campaign utilizing social media to build up buzz and nostalgia among today’s thirtysomething crowd. Advance ticket sales are pacing ahead of The Maze Runner, which opened to $32.5 million. Power Rangers could go forth with $36 million from 3693 locations.
Sony targets older sci-fi fans with Life [LIFEM]. Although the R-rated thriller boasts the combined starpower of Ryan Reynolds [RREYN] and Jake Gyllenhaal [JGYLL], the footage shown thus far seemed derivative of other films, like Gravity meets Alien. Appearing in 3146 theaters, Life may end with $18 million.
Dax Shepard [DSHEP] and Michael Pena [MPENA] star in CHiPs [CHIPS] based on the TV series from the ’70-80s. The family friendly show has been turned into an R-rated raunch comedy, which may appear to some young men, but will turn off the older fans. Poor reviews only reinforce what most moviegoers can tell from the trailers. Cruising into 2464 theaters, CHiPs may pull over $11 million.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): BTATB, MMPR, LIFEM, RREYN, JGYLL, DSHEP, MPENA, CHIPS