The Avengers has been the number one film three weeks in a row. Its reign will likely come to an end after the four-day Memorial Day weekend. Men in Black 3 (4,248 theatres) has a lot going for it. It's a family-friendly hybrid of sci-fi and comedy, it's gotten more positive reviews than negative, and it stars Will Smith, who always draws in crowds. The fact that it's a "3" is a bit of a liability, but the movie's fun, original concept, which involves time travel and Josh Brolin playing a young Tommy Lee Jones, should help quiet some of the naysayers. FJI critic Daniel Eagan praises the sci-fi blockbuster, which is "about as idiosyncratic and rewarding as the genre gets." Insiders predict an $80 million plus opening for MIB3 domestically. Combined with overseas receipts, it could earn over $200 million. Plus, the movie is being offered in 3D, which will boost receipts even higher.
Chernobyl Diaries (2,433 theatres) comes from Paranormal Activity producer Oren Peli. The horror flick centers on a group of young people who decide to visit the still-radioactive site of Chernobyl, only to end up under attack from either mutants or ghosts (the trailers have been opaque). Early reviews from critics have been more negative than positive, but that usually doesn't have much of an impact on films in the horror genre. Commercials have been running heavily on youth outlets like MTV, but Paramount will be lucky if the horror movie cracks $20 million.
Wes Anderson fans can rejoice with Moonrise Kingdom (4 theatres), the eclectic director's latest. The tale of two 12-year-olds who fall in love and run away together on a remote East Coast island is filled with charm and is my favorite Anderson film since Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. Anderson fan and FJI critic Kevin Lally agrees, noting that the two young leads "bring real heart to Anderson’s cool, studied, hipper-than-thou universe, making this one of his most accessible and gratifying divertissements." The quirky romance will undoubtedly debut with off-the-charts per-screen averages, given Anderson's reputation. Its real test will be in weeks to come, when the well of Anderson fans dries up and it will need to "win some converts among those who’ve resisted his hermetic style," something Lally sees as a possibility.
The Intouchables (4 theatres) was a smash hit in France. The "feel-good picture of the year," according to critic Rex Roberts, centers on the relationship between a wealthy paraplegic and his Senegalese caretaker, both of whom are changed by their relationship with each other. Roberts declared it "an endearing testament to human resilience and empathy." The light, uplifting premise should make it an easy choice among Francophiles and other indie audiences.
Fox Searchlight, which has enjoyed an immensely successful release of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, will expand its release to 1,233 theatres this weekend, four weeks into its release.
On Tuesday, we'll see if MIB3 lived up to its expectations, and how much the films benefited from their extra day of returns.
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