It seems The Expendables is going to take the weekend box-office crown, but by how much and with how much? On Friday the Sylvester Stallone actioner tallied an estimated $13.5 million at the box-office, but I have to assume it will be sliding on Saturday and Sunday. Yet, this means it will still be making over $30 million and I’d say likely in the $33 million range. As for its competition? Well, it blew it away…
The Julia Roberts starrer Eat Pray Love will certainly see a bump over the Saturday and Sunday frame, but the chance it will be enough to top Sly is nil. After an estimated $9 million on Friday I’d say we’re looking at about a $28 million weekend. Personally, I’m surprised. Just as Laremy predicted, I also thought Eat Pray Love would take the weekend, but it seems like Stallone and his gang of ’80s stars is still a draw. However, I’m not convinced this weekend’s box-office return will be enough to get Stallone’s proposed Expendables sequel off the ground considering its reported $82-million budget.
The week’s other new wide release newcomer, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, didn’t fair nearly as well as its counterparts sliding to the fourth slot, behind last week’s new release The Other Guys, with an estimated $4.7 million, which will have the film struggling to hit $13 million for the weekend. This isn’t as much a surprise as it is a disappointment as it was easily the best of the three new wide releases, yet audiences just aren’t going to turn out for such a niche film. Myself and three friends added to its coffers last night, but I don’t think our few dollars will be enough to make what is being reported as a $60 million film before prints and advertising a success.
The top five was rounded out with Christopher Nolan’s Inception taking $3.4 million and will likely score another $11 million and may be able to leap frog Scott Pilgrim should Pilgrim fail to score over Saturday and Sunday.
I’ve included the complete Friday estimates directly below. Laremy will be here Sunday morning with a complete wrap-up.
- The Expendables – $13.5 million
- Eat Pray Love – $9 million
- The Other Guys – $5.7 million
- Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – $4.7 million
- Inception – $3.4 million
- Step Up 3D – $2.3 million
- Despicable Me – $2.2 million
- Dinner for Schmucks – $2 million
- Salt – $1.8 million
- Cats and Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore – $1.7 million
