New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Hannibal Rising, Norbit

Like last week, this week brings a lowly two wide releases to the nation. Your choices this week are targeting two different audiences. One promises a few splashes of the red stuff, and maybe a few fleshy treats, on the other hand, we also get a comedy that promises a dosing of gross out humor and over the top slapstick. Which one is going to win your cinematic dollar?

Hannibal Rising. (2007, 117 minutes, R, thriller, trailer) This could go either way. I am actually not sure whether or not it will be any good. of course, I hope it will be good. This movie chronicles the early formative years of our favorite helpful serial killer. This will be the first time that Hannibal will be a full on bad guy, I think. In the other films he was a bad guy, no doubt, but he was instrumental in the discovery of other sinister forces. Ah, I can't lie, I'm looking forward to seeing some creepy grue on the screen.

Norbit. (2007, 90 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) Following his wonderful turn in Dreamgirls, we get back to the funny side of Eddie Murphy. Without seeing this, I have to say it looks funny, stupid, but funny. Murphy plays a trio of roles, Norbit, his hefty fiancee, and his adoptive father. Norbit is a nerdy guy engaged to an overbearing and oversized woman when he meets the girl of his dreams, played by Thandie Newton. Could be goofy fun, or it could be a tedious bore. Let's hope for the former.

Little Children. (2006, 130 minutes, PG-13, drama, trailer) This Oscar nominee is making its way to my area this week. It is coming to a new arthouse that I found a few weeks back. It stars Kate Winslet and concerns the intersecting lives of a group of married couples. I do not know a lot about the film, other than I hear it has a very good script and a show stealing performance from Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Black Friday
• The Last Sin Eater
• The Lives of Others

Box Office Predictions

I think that the skin wearing serial killer is going to have a strong showing. It has been a little over 4 years since Red Dragon opened with over $36 million, now I don't think Hannibal Rising will soar that high, but there is no doubt that the character has a certain allure. Eddie Murphy always is a pretty good draw, his last live action starring film was Haunted Mansion in 2003, it opened to the tune of $24 million. Both of the new films should have good openings. That leaves the rest of field open.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Hannibal Rising	$23 million
2	Norbit	$18 million
3	Because I Said So	$9 million
4	The Messengers	$8 million
5	Night at the Musem	$5 million
6	Epic Movie	$4 million
7	Smokin' Aces	$3 million
8	Stomp the Yard	$2.5 million
9	Pan's Labyrinth	$2 million
10	Dreamgirls	$2 million

What are you seeing this weekend?