November 21, 2008

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Bolt, Twilight

Last weekend say a single movie open in wide release, targeting the action loving crowd. This week brings two more films to the national stage, targeting different audiences. One film targets the teen and tween audience, leaning towards the female audience, while the other has its sights set on the younger set and their families. Which will win? The answer is not as easy as it would seem.

Bolt. (2008, 96 minutes, PG, animated comedy, trailer) I have to say that this looks like fun. It may not be a summer release with all of the gigantic expectations that go with it, but that does not appear to stop it from being a fun looking movie. Actually, the trailers give it a loose, relaxed quality as if the animators did not have the entire Mouse House on their backs. The movie chronicles the adventures of a young dog named Bolt, who just so happens to be the star of a popular television show about a superhero pup. The problem is that the dog, voiced by John Travolta, thinks his powers are real and when he finds himself off the studio grounds he wants to use his powers to get back to his friend and co-star, voiced by Miley Cyrus. Along the way he gets help from an abandoned house cat named Mittens and a TV loving hamster named Rhino.



Twilight. (2008, 120 minutes, PG-13, teen romance, trailer) Here is a movie that has been selling out screenings more than a month before its release. The film, based on a series of best-selling novels, is set to have a huge opening. It is the story of a teen girl named Bella (Kristen Stewart), who does not get along with other girls her age and is sent to live with her father in a small town. Here she meets a boy, Edward (Robert Pattinson) and embarks on an unorthodox romance. Edward is a vampire and his family chooses not to drink human blood, but the threat is always there. Conflict arises when a group of not so friendly vampires arrives with other plans for the townsfolk. Rumor has it that two sequels are already being prepped.



Also opening this week, but not near me:
  • I Can't Think Straight
  • Lake City
  • Special

Box Office Predictions
Normally, I would immediately say that Bolt would win the weekend with its family target and the word Disney attached to the title. That said, this is not an ordinary weekend, this was supposed to be the opening weekend of the new Harry Potter film, instead we get a teen vampire romance whose fan base is incredibly rabid with shows selling out well in advance of its opening. It looks like Twilight is going to be a monster this weekend.

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

RankTitleBox Office
1Twilight$75 million
2Bolt$38 million
3Quantum of Solace$34 million
4Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa$18 million
5Role Models$6.5 million
6

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

$4.5 million
7Changeling$3.25 million
8Zack and Miri Make a Porno$2.25 million
9The Secret Life of Bees$2 million
10Beverly Hills Chihuahua$1 million


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