Box-Office Predictions: 'Expendables 2' Eyes an Easy Weekend Win Over 'ParaNorman' and 'Bourne Legacy'

We’re going for the double-digit win streak this weekend … and it looks like a sure thing. The Expendables 2 should win walking away, but let’s break this thing down anyway!

Laremy predicted the #1 movie correctly 9 Weeks In A Row

The Expendables 2

I personally don’t get it, because I found the first one to be completely lackluster. However, I’m only one ticket worth of revenue, and the market seems to dictate that I’m out of touch on this one. The original received a B+ CinemaScore, which is plenty good enough to merit a slight bump in the per theater average this time around.

So I’m going with $12k per theater. The film was only screened for critics in L.A. and NYC, but it sits at a healthy 60 percent approval rate, as opposed to the original’s 41 percent. If it’s actually an improvement, then it follows that audiences will like it even more, especially given their already low expectations. So yeah, it’s all turning up gravy this weekend for Sly Stallone and his wrecking crew.

If you wanted to make the case against The Expendables 2 opening in first, I suppose you could note that director Simon West has only had one film open this well (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)? Nah. I can’t see it. Too little competition, even with the R rating.

Prediction: $39.8 million

2. ParaNorman

I always want to just plug in a Coraline number here, but I’m going slightly less due to demographic competition. The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days and Ice Age: Continental Drift will all eat, just a little bit, into ParaNorman‘s base. All that eating will add up to keep it under $20m, and potentially under $15m.

Prediction: $19.1 million

3. The Bourne Legacy

It should dip fairly hard this weekend, something around 54 percent. It’s only got a B CinemaScore and The Bourne Ultimatum dipped 53 percent in its sophomore weekend.

Prediction: $17.5 million

4. The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Only 39 percent on RT deserves a little “yikes”. Parents have plenty of options this weekend, but 1.75 million tickets sold doesn’t feel unreasonable.

Prediction: $12.8 million

5. The Campaign

It’s definitely poised to take a blistering fall this weekend. The biggest dipper on the board at 56 percent.

Prediction: $11.7 million

6. Sparkle

The teen ones are always so hot and cold, which means this middling $5k per theater call is just throwing a dart.

Prediction: $11.3 million

7. The Dark Knight Rises

If 20m more people buy a ticket, it hits a billion. Anyone want to start a petition?

Prediction: $7.8 million

8. Hope Springs

I’d have preferred they had “Eternal” in the title. Because I think it every time I see it.

Prediction: $7.7 million

9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

They only spent $22m, and it’s nearing $40m, so it doesn’t need much more of a push to leave Fox feeling good.

Prediction: $4.4 million

10. Ice Age: Continental Drift

It’s probably going to end up in the top 30, all time, in worldwide box office. Incredible.

Prediction: $3.7 million

How say you? Care to proffer a call on The Expendables 2 or ParaNorman? Does The Odd Life of Timothy Green or Sparkle make you bust out your predicting shoes? If so, predictions away!

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Box-Office Oracle: ‘Expendables 2’ Eyes an Easy Weekend Win Over ‘ParaNorman’ and ‘Bourne Legacy’

The Expendables 2