Here is the projected Top 10:
#1: Deadpool ($32 million, -44%)
#2: Gods of Egypt ($13 million)
#3: Triple 9 ($12 million)
#4: Kung Fu Panda 3 ($9 million, -28%)
#5: Eddie the Eagle ($8.5 million)
#6: Risen ($8 million, -32%)
#7: Race ($5 million, -33%)
#8: The Witch ($4.5 million, -49%)
How to Be Single ($4.5 million, -45%)
#10: The Revenant ($3 million, -23%)
Gods of Egypt finally arrives in theaters after riding waves of controversy for its all-white cast. Since then, buzz has been predictably not very strong for the action thriller. Distributor Lionsgate is set to take some serious red ink here, as the late-February release date is a dumping ground for films typically. 3D won't be much of a booster. Look for a low-teens millions opening.
That movie might be beaten by Triple 9, an odd, under-the-radar R-rated action title. Buzz hasn't been great, but many tracking services are giving it the edge. It's a different film that has gotten decent reviews so far (56% on Rotten Tomatoes). This will be the one to watch this weekend.
The film with the most marketing of the three is the gentler of the three. True story adaptation Eddie the Eagle boasts Hugh Jackman as a co-lead along with rising star Taron Edgerton. Reviews are very good so far for the Olympic drama (77% on Rotten Tomatoes), but will have to compete with Race. Overall buzz, is, very weak. High single-digits is likely.
Deadpool will easily remain on top for the final time, and may or may not drop hard this weekend (it should hold better than last weekend). Kung Fu Panda 3 will have one more hurrah with family crowds before Zootopia takes them, while both Risen and Race should benefit from strong word-of-mouth (the latter may or may not hold well with Eddie in the mix). The Revenant will hold strong thanks to Oscar Sunday, while The Witch will drop about average with horror standards and How to Be Single will level off somewhat.
