Weekend Box Office #101

So the interesting thing about the 4 wide-release movies this weekend is that they are all being sold more on the names attached to them than on their plots.

Which could be a good or bad thing, because the reviews for most aren't great.

RIGHTEOUS KILL (3152 theaters). Despite what some ads might have you believe, this obviously isn't the first time these two have been on-screen together; they had several scenes together in HEAT (while they also both appeared in GODFATHER II, though not at the same time. Yikes, that was 34 years ago, I'm old). Unfortunately, this movie's not supposed to be all that good. Prediction: $10.1 million for the weekend.

THE WOMEN (2962 theaters). There's not a man to be seen in this movie. Unfortunately, reviews for this are pretty dire as well. $11.1 million.

BURN AFTER READING (2651 theaters). At least something is getting pretty good reviews, though they aren't doing a very good job selling the hook to the story. $9.3 million.

TYLER PERRY'S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS. Not shown to critics, and like Perry's other movies it's likely to be heavy-handed and melodramatic. But never bet against Tyler Perry. $14.2 million.

PROUD AMERICAN (750 theaters). This is a documentary with uplifting interviews with people about how great our country is. This is a pretty big release (particularly in California) for a documentary without much pedigree. $2.0 million.

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Last weekend was one of the most quiet weekends at the box office in the past five years; BANGKOK DANGEROUS came in first, but only did $7.8 million.

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Prayers go out to the people around Houston and Galveston. Hopefully anyone in an unsafe situation got the hell out of there.