I'm of the mind that Rocky is being overpredicted, but even still: does anything else think that Pursuit of Happyness has a shot at beating either Rocky or Night at the Museum to remain #2 this weekend?

I think a lot of it has to do with WOM, but I can really see Happyness staying in the mid's 20 (or higher) for the 4 day weekend and shocking everyone.

The early WOM is excellent. Pursuit was only down 57% yesterday from Sunday, and I can see it coming in #2 this weekend. I believe Rocky will be #1, but I've had NATM disappointing for over a month. If this is an official club, then count me in.

I could see Pursuit maybe beating Night at the Museum this week but definately not Rocky Balboa

If Night at the Museum dissapoints it's possible, but I don't really see that happening. Rather, I think it and Rocky will be like a smaller Casino Royale/Happy Feet.

Yeah, good comparison. Low $30's for both? (Or at least for Rocky's 5-day)

Y'all can't be serious with these Rocky predictions?

The long weekend will go:
Night at the Museum [close]
Pursuit of Happyness [close]






[Old]Rocky [not even close]


ANyone who thinks otherwise needs to have their heads checked.

Rocky will open with half of Night at the Museum. Mark my words.

The Pursuit of Happyness will land between the two.

Sorry Dolce. You're the damage brain with one. Not Balboa Rocky

Oh I see how it is. All these articulate film snobs have come to fight the Rocky fanatics. Now let me tell you something. Your cant match wits with neither Frank or Sly Stallone. How does it feel to have Rocky Balboa receiving better reviews than all your artsy Good German and Good Shepard movies?

Screw it.

I went out on a limb last weekend by predicting Happyness as #1. I'm going with my gut (and Dolce):

1. Night at the Museum
2. Pursuit of Happyness
3. Rocky Balboa

Lol Rocky will win. Mark my words. Some here are way underestimating the
-Rocky factor
-I am christmas sentimental and we want to see the underdog.


Rocky for teh win!

So are audiences, but the underdog story they'll be watching is Pursuit of Happyness.

How about all you anti-Rocky fans put your avatars on the line where you have to change your avatars to SLy Stallone if you Pursuit doesnt outgross Rocky this week? Ill change my avatar to reflect my jackassness if Rocky doesnt at least get 20 million in its 3 day weekend total?
Sounds good?
No because I smell fear. I smell Ivan Drago fear!

You wrote those words in reverse on purpose!

And nah, I'm not a film snob, if anything I'm judging from last week's CHarlotte release. New generations may not care at all about something that was an icon, regardless or its icon staus. Old people may not want to tarnish something they hold dear, or they may just remember the infinite amount of bad Rocky spinoffs. Eitherway, I just don't see how resurrecting this franchise (whether the film is quality or not) is going to fill the seats opening weekend. Its also, dare I say it, still a boxing movie with scewed demographic turnout to begin with. Plus, people are going to be with their kids and families. Family movies are going to own this weekend, not dramas. And because C0Web didn't stir people, and Happy Feet has been sitting in theatres for ages, Night at the Museum is really going to capitalize on the lack of direct competition. Pursuit will do well, is family friendly, and a heart-warming drama for the season, but I just don't see it beating out Museum.

All of the above statement, if you haven't noticed, have nothing to do with perceived "film snob" status. I acknolwedged long ago that sucky movies can still make a killing at the box office (Case in point, the new 007). So my personal opinion, or critical reception of this movie, has nothing to do with me calling its opening weekend.

And I did call it.

I agree with Hito, Rocky is going to make half of Night and the Museum...if its lucky.

Not anti-Rocky and I love Sly - but I'm down with the wager.

However, just to keep things nice and tidy: why don't we make the bet in regards to the weekend totals only (12/22-12/25) and the placement of each film.

If Rocky beats Pursuit in the weekend estimates:
Superman with rainbows coming out of his hands is gone and the Demolition Man is up.

If Pursuit beats Rocky in the weekend estimates:
A smiling Will Smith will be looking on from Fuerte's new avatar.

Couldn't have said it better myself...

Yeah I know Im kidding about the whole anti-Rocky thing. I was just trying to build a grudge match. And sure thing about the avatar. Lets just take the average of our 3 day total to see who comes in the closest.

Cool, it's on!!!!!!

Any other takers?

Coming up on the last chance to join this not-really-a-club club....

Would you like me to recommend a good neurologist to you?

After seeing the opening day number for Rocky Balboa, it looks like Pursuit will have to settle for third.

However, that being said, it should still have a pretty nice hold on Friday and Saturday before crashing (like every other film) on Sunday.

Maybe, maybe not. If Rocky is as front-loaded as I think it is...it could be a nail biter.

Pursuit is almost a week old...there's no opening day rush, yet it still made half of what Rocky did yesterday. What's going to happen on Friday-Sun when the mainstream returns to the multiplex en masse is going to be interesting to watch.

Again, I think Rocky is going to be solid hit...I just think Happyness is going to be bigger.

I see around 22-23 for Rocky after Wed and Pursuit being around 22-22. Its looking like it may make around 7-7.5 on Friday, but the Sunday drop will hurt it.

Front-loaded?

This is a PG movie and an adult-skewing movie, the two variables which yield the highest multipliers (besides a kid's movie).

I may be mistaken, but I don't think there are many 45 year olds who rush out to movies to see it on the first day, especially on a non-holiday

BOM, BOP and EW pick Happyness as #2 (behind Museum) with only Coming Soon predicting Rocky can edge out Will Smith...