Expected to top the box office is sci-fi book adaptation Ender's Game. Featuring a strong cast that includes Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin, Hailee Steinfeld and Ben Kingsley, and impressive-looking visuals, this movie will be a solid choice for not only teenagers, but families and young adults as well. Tracking has been fairly modest, but the book is well-known enough that its' fanbase should show up. Reviews have been decent, if unspectacular. Strong competition in the weeks ahead will limit its' potential. Look for a first place debut of around $30 million, and a final gross in the $75 million range.
Also debuting is the animated comedy Free Birds. The first of three cartoons this holiday season, its' the first movie aimed at families since Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, which has amassed just over $100 million so far. Free Birds has an original premise, and a Thanksgiving theme, which should allow it to take in a solid audience all the way up until Frozen hits in just under four weeks. Distributor Relativity Media has made a strong marketing campaign, with trailers appearing in front of almost all of this summer's animated flicks. Anticipation and buzz have been modest, but its hard to underestimate family fare. On the downside, the reviews have been negative, but it likely won't matter. Free Birds should rally about $18 million this weekend, on its' way to around $65 million stateside, maybe more.
The final new release teams up Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas and Kevin Kline in Las Vegas-themed comedy, Last Vegas. Unlike its' two competitors, Last Vegas will have its' audience divided among holdovers such as Gravity, Captain Phillips and Bad Grandpa. However, those looking for something new will definitely show up. All four actors aren't huge draws though (Freeman maybe), while reviews have been mixed at best. Expect a third place debut of $15 million, on its' way to around $40 million.Last week's topper, Bad Grandpa will likely drop a bit due to some of its' audience already coming out. Look for a 55% dip to $14.5 million, for a $56 million 10-day gross. Rounding out the Top 5 should be Gravity, which will be losing IMAX screens to Ender's Game. A 40% dip to $12.5 million may occur, for a huge $220 million pick-up in one month of release.
Here is the rest of the Top 10:
#6: Captain Phillips ($8 million, -31%)
#7: 12 Years a Slave ($4 million, expanding)
#8: The Counselor ($3.5 million, -56%)
#9: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 ($3 million, -52%)
#10: Carrie ($2.5 million, -58%)
