Here is the projected Top 10:
#1: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies ($24 million, -41%)
#2: Into the Woods ($20.5 million, -35%)
#3: Unbroken ($19.5 million, -36%)
#4: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ($13.5 million, -33%)
#5: Annie ($11 million, -33%)
#6: The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death ($9 million)
#7: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I ($6.5 million, -36%)
#8: The Imitation Game ($6 million, -24%)
#9: The Gambler ($5.5 million, -40%)
#10: Exodus: Gods and Kings ($4 million, -40%)
Wild ($4 million, -26%)
#1: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies ($24 million, -41%)
#2: Into the Woods ($20.5 million, -35%)
#3: Unbroken ($19.5 million, -36%)
#4: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ($13.5 million, -33%)
#5: Annie ($11 million, -33%)
#6: The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death ($9 million)
#7: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I ($6.5 million, -36%)
#8: The Imitation Game ($6 million, -24%)
#9: The Gambler ($5.5 million, -40%)
#10: Exodus: Gods and Kings ($4 million, -40%)
Wild ($4 million, -26%)
This weekend, kids prepare to go back to school, so overall steam will slow down on many holdovers.
The only new release, The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death, is opening on a weekend that usually works well with horror flicks. The Devil Inside opened to $36 million while Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones picked up $18 million. The original Black also opened in the Winter months and was a solid success, earning $55 million stateside. However, horror sequels never live up to their predecessors, and this one hasn't received a strong marketing push, neither has it had strong buzz. High-single digits is likely.
It will be a closer race for #1, but barring an unexpected 50+% drop for Hobbit, the final installment of Peter Jackson's Middle Earth trilogy should hold the #1 spot. Being the end of school breaks and kids coming to theaters one more time, it should help it hold decently. Into the Woods, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Annie should all fall in the 30-35% range with no additional competition.
The heavier drops will likely go to the more mixed reception and adult-skewing flicks. Unbroken, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I, The Gambler and Exodus: Gods and Kings will likely fall around 40%. Meanwhile, The Imitation Game and Wild will continue to benefit from awards season buzz and repeated attendance from curious and mainstream audiences. They both should hold the strongest.
