This weekend's box office is slower than originally anticipated, but its' still set to be up from last year...
The Expendables 2 is tops, as expected, but it doesn't quite live up to its' predecessor. The action sequel debuted to an estimated $10.5 million on Friday. The original Expendables had opened to $13.3 million on this same Friday two years ago, on its' way to a $34.8 million weekend. Comparing that films' same trajectory and word of mouth (this one recieved an "A-" CinemaScore), and the second movie will likely clock in with $28 million for the weekend, slightly disappointing, but far from disastrous.
After topping last weekend, The Bourne Legacy tumbled 62% from last Friday to an estimated $5.3 million, in what should be a $17 million second weekend, a respectable 55% drop from last weekend.
Third place is a virtual tie, though right now, animated spookfest ParaNorman edges out the spot with a respectable estimated $4.6 million. That's exactly the same as what Coraline debuted to three and a half years ago, though that was in February, so Norman won't reach that films' $16.8 million opening weekend. Instead, the positively-reviewed flick ("B+" CinemaScore) will likely settle for a couple notches below that, $14 million.
Whitney Houston's final film Sparkle was just a hair behind with an estimated $4.55 million, a strong start for a low-budget film. With strong audience reception ("A" CinemaScore), the movie may very well take third place by the end of the weekend, but for now, due to Norman's expected family bump, I'm going to guess $13 million for the weekend.
The Campaign rounded out the Top 5 on Friday, down 61% from last Friday to an estimated $4.3 million, in what looks like a $13 million second weekend, and in the race for third place.
Taking sixth place on Friday, family drama The Odd Life of Timothy Green got off to an OK start, tallying an estimated $3.4 million, for a $7.7 million tally since its' Wednesday start. With an "A-" CinemaScore and a family bump expected, it wouldn't be surprising to see the weekend gross propel to $11 million, for a five-day tally north of $15 million.
Finally, in milestone news, The Dark Knight Rises became the third movie of 2012 to pass the $400 million mark domestically, and will claim second place for the year by the end of the weekend. It came in seventh place on Friday with a 44% decrease to an estimated $3.1 million, in what looks to be an $11 million fifth weekend.
Weekend estimates to be posted tomorrow evening...
