Weekend Box Office #158

The only movie opening this weekend actually opened Wednesday: MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT, on 3481 theaters.

Despite decent reviews, numbers so far are lower than the lofty numbers predicted, and Halloween being on a Saturday won't help. Figure $19.4 million for the weekend.

And I think the title is an empty promise: we're going to be getting lots more Michael Jackson stuff, as long as they can figure out how to make lots of money from it.

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Last weekend, SAW VI stumbled and only made $14.1, finishing second, well behind PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. Everyone is looking for cheap horror movies now.

ASTRO BOY fell short with only $6.7 million for the weekend, THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT did only $6.4 million, and AMELIA really tanked with only $3.9 million.

Weekend Box Office #157

The days are just flying by. Crazy.

I haven't been to a movie in months, though tonight the wife and I are going to see something. Not sure what, yet.

Opening wide this weekend:

SAW VI (3036 theaters). Number 6? Really? Isn't the string played out yet? Haven't they already killed off everyone? Does its audience even know what "VI" means (and how sad is it that if they do, it's the one thing all that Roman numeral education was good for). Figure $18.7 million for the weekend.

ASTRO BOY (3014 theaters). I don't see a huge amount of adult crossover here, though I suppose kids will see it. Prediction: $17.5 million.

CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT (2754 theaters). I've seen commercials for this, and nothing about it grabs me, while John C. Reilly's presence gives it an odd tone. Given all the other vampire projects around, and all the scarier movies, who is going to see this? Prediction: $4.6 million.

AMELIA (818 theaters). Something for adults, though this isn't very many theaters. $9.8 million.

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Last weekend, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE made a solid $32.7 million.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN did a nice $21.0 million, while THE STEPFATHER managed $11.6 million.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY did $19.6 million, so I was close on something.

Weekend Box Office #156

The big question this weekend is how much WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE will do. It has been a roller-coaster ride for this movie: early production work said it was a mess, too dark for kids. But they've done a great job advertising it in the last few months, and I think a lot of kids will want to see it, though I'm not sure how many adults-without-kids will seek it out.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (3735 theaters). I'm going to guess $42.4 million for the weekend, though it could do a lot more -- or less.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN (2889 theaters). It looks okay. Maybe $14.5 million for the weekend.

THE STEPFATHER (2734 theaters). Is this a remake anyone was crying out for? Hard to see it garnering much real interest. $4.1 million.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (expanding to 760 theaters). This made an astounding $7.9 million last weekend, in only 160 theaters. Prediction: $19.5 million this weekend.

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Last weekend, COUPLES RETREAT made $34.3 million. I'm dumbfounded. If there's any sign that the economy is rebounding, the fact that people have disposable cash for a poorly-reviewed comedy like this is it.

Weekend Box Office #155

Quiet weekend this weekend, with only one movie opening wide.

COUPLES RETREAT (3000 theaters). As much as I like Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau together, I have yet to hear an actual funny joke in any commercial for this film, and it's hard to imagine what's going to hook audiences. Prediction: $8.1 million for the weekend.

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Last weekend, ZOMBIELAND did a very solid $24.7 million.

TOY STORY/TOY STORY 2 did $12.5 million. THE INVENTION OF LYING did only $7.0 million, and WHIP IT stumbled in with only $4.6 million.

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY did only $4.4 million.

Weekend Box Office #154

So I didn't make the Nicholl Finals. Still not a bad run though.

Opening wide this weekend:

ZOMBIELAND (3036 theaters). This looks a little too offbeat to really be huge, but it should make some good money. Prediction: $17.8 million for the weekend.

TOY STORY/TOY STORY 2 (3D) (1745 theaters). The running time (and the fact that everyone owns them) will cut down on the box office a little, but the 3D will help. $14.6 million.

WHIP IT (1720 theaters). I read the script and generally liked it, though I don't think they are selling it very well. $8.1 million.

THE INVENTION OF LYING (1707 theaters). I also read this and liked it, though I don't think they've figured out how to sell it either. $6.5 million.

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY (expanding to 962 theaters). I'm not sure people are really in the mood to watch this. $5.1 million.

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Last weekend, SURROGATES opened with $14.9 million. FAME did $10 million. PANDORUM tanked with only $4.4 million.