Yes, everyone is hungry for more Franco after the Oscars.

I have mixed feelings on Your Highness' box office potential. The cast is strong, and Pineapple Express is well-regarded, but I'm not sure how broad this particular (fantasy) film's appeal will be.

I have mixed feelings on Your Highness' box office potential. The cast is strong, and Pineapple Express is well-regarded, but I'm not sure how broad this particular (fantasy) film's appeal will be.

Me too. I feel like as funny as the movie looks I just can't see the mainstream audience getting into the whole strange, fantasy setting. However, if Paul can do $13M opening weekend and that movie was about a slacker alien with Seth Rogen's voice then YH should be atleast good for $15M+ with a strong cast and good marketing.

I think it can do low 20s. I don't think fantasy is so much the problem as that isn't strange any more.

Portman's Oscar buzz will do little for Your Highness. It's more likely to attract those looking for a glimpse of her backside, and even that's debatable. A $15-17m OW is all I see for it, especially opening against Arthur (which I can see opening under $15m).

As for this week, Hop's marketing strategy reminds me a lot of Despicable Me. I can't see how it doesn't open to at least $30m.

I've seen more TV ads for it than anything in weeks?



And I think this is incorrect. Portman's presence is going to help the movie connect with more women than it would have otherwise. She's obviously VERY fresh in the public's minds right now, and many of the ads I've seen are centered entirely around her character.

We'll see. You are obviously more connected with the female demographic and she is undoubtedly a draw.

I'm with Libs on this. Also James Franco's sudden popularity coming off of 127 Hours has allowed him to really branch out with women. I know alot of women of different ages who want to see this just for him. That combined with Natalie Portman's HOT appeal could give this movie a type of edge that we have never seen for these types of comedies.

It is still a medieval stoner comedy and the only reason people are suddenly considering 20+ numbers is RS so I don't need to repeat how ridiculous that is.

omg for scream 4, wat if scream opens for 54 million

Yep it will have atleast a 20+ opening, but then drop off big time from there. Still if it has a 50+ opening $100M+ is guaranteed which is a BIG success.

Yep it will have atleast a 20+ opening, but then drop off big time from there. Still if it has a 50+ opening $100M+ is guaranteed which is a BIG success.

Pineapple had a $12M opening day, but was ridiculously frontloaded. Your Highness will probably play out the same. This is an event film for the genre.

mtc

hop 21 sc 14 insidious 8

awful weekend in store again? fuck this.

Disappointed with the tracking. Hop looks to open under $20m based on this, which I totally didn't expect.

That is awful for all three openers. Atleast SC is nearby.....but terrible for Hop and Insidious

Hop is not opening under $20 mil. Fact.

MTC numbers look more realistic, I'd say.

It would be SO sick if Scream 4 opened to $50m.

Adjusted numbers are silly, but Scream 2's opening adjusts to $53m, and Scream 3's to $47m.

And I really think the audience has only grown in the meantime, since Scream 4 will draw in everyone who saw the first three films (I mean, I was 17 when the first one came out, so I was really the target audience) plus younger audiences who either A) loved the first ones but discovered them later since they were too young or B) who just like horror movies. I think $50M is doable.

The reviews for Source Code are really impressive. Even if doesn't crack $20m OW, it looks like it will stick around. We've talked a lot about the disappointments this year (perceived or factual), but it's really great to see such solid adult-driven fare hitting theaters.

Actually the adjustments are closer to Scream 2 - 58 and Scream 3 - 54 (unless you're trying to adjust for 3D ticket prices, which I'm not). Those are remarkable numbers for any type of horror movie, let alone a slasher.

Hannibal got 58 though it was more in the thriller category, and that was 2001. Hannibal adjusts to 85m opening - is that freaking insane or what?

Of course we're in a new era, but I'm thinking 45 is the floor for Scream 4.

I'm a bit torn on Insidious. The marketplace has been devoid of a solid PG-13 horror film for some time, and despite a creepy, astmospheric trailer and generally good reviews, the rest of the signs are pretty weak for it. Anyone here looking forward to seeing it? They are pushing the whole Saw/PA thing pretty hard, but I'm not convinced it's working.

Insidious is FilmDistrict's first attempt at distribution. They seem to be associated with Sony Pictures (this article said Soul Surfer was to be their first release http://www.indiewire.com/article/soul_s ... ures_deal/ ) but yeah, I agree that there aren't many encouraging signs. As said, adult films seem to be the ones performing well. A horror movie like this will be driven by teenage interest, which is apparently not there. I don't think this will perform terribly, but anything over 10 million should probably be seen as a win.

It has an strong cast for a PG-13 horror film--Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Barbara Hershey--which is why I'm interested in seeing it.

Could its Internet ads be any more generic, though? Metacritic was plastered with them yesterday. The grumpy child staring darkly into the camera. Yawn.

In general, I feel they've dropped the advertising ball with Insidious. The trailer and TV spots are too fast and nondescript. They don't have a Big Scare moment people can remember. Just lots of rapid-fire vague creepiness.

And advertising it's 'from the people who brought you saw Saw & Paranormal Activity' won't help much. For one, those two franchies couldn't be more different. And I figure the mention of Saw will elicit more groans than nods of approval these days.

Talk of brand new commercial movies and their box office this weekend must take a temporary break, as for me my heart and mind will be on the returns at a single screen, the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles, where I'll be celebrating a very special (old man) birthday with a screening of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair.

All shows this weekend are sold out. I'm thinking the per screen average at New Beverly should be fantastic. QT himself has already shown up a couple times this week to introduce the screenings, all four hours plus of The Bride satiating her blood thirsty revenge! The unrated, never before screened in America version of Quentin's classic, and now my opportunity to finally see this version is at hand.

Happy Birthday indeed!