Weekend Box Office #49

Coming out this weekend:

THE BRAVE ONE (2755 theaters). Though Jodie Foster obviously ups the interest factor in this, it's still another DEATH WISH knockoff, and the similar DEATH SENTENCE just tanked. This isn't getting the reviews it'll probably need; look for an opening weekend of about $14.3 million, and then a big dropoff.

DRAGON WARS (2269 theaters). I'm not sure what to make of this one; it's from an obscure company, it has no stars in it, and they aren't screening it for critics. So what looks like it has the scope of a big Hollywood movie is liable not to get much interest. Call it $6.3 million for the weekend.

MR. WOODCOCK (2231 theaters). This has been sitting on the shelf for a while, reviews are unenthusiastic, and it's hard to imagine all that many people will really seek it out, though it does have a dumb fun factor going for it. Maybe $6.2 million for the weekend.

There are some interesting films coming out in limited release, including EASTERN PROMISES, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH and KING OF CALIFORNIA. Might be time to see if the AC in the art houses is working.