'Iron Man 3' takes the stage, could pass $150 million opening weekend

No other wide release dares to go up against the strongly armored Iron Man 3  (4,253 theatres). With no competition, the Robert Downey Jr.-led sequel could easily earn over $150 million in a weekend. Last year, The Avengers opened with over $200 million, but that had the added benefit of being super-superhero movie, with fellow franchise players like Thor, Captain America, and The Hulk in the mix. Many reviewers have come out in favor of the action-packed sequel, which has plenty of humor and "marks an exciting return to form for a franchise that had dipped in quality," notes our critic Daniel Eagan. People will likely see this movie not only as continuation of 2010's Iron Man 2, but also of last year's The Avengers. Overseas, the movie has already earned $300 million, an excellent indicator of success. Over 90% of advance sales on Fandango and Movietickets.com are for Iron Man 3, so it's clear this is the most anticipated movie so far this year.

For those who don't like explosions and superhero suits, there's also a strong selection of indies opening this weekend. The "wonderfully droll horror comedy" The Happy House, as described by critic David Noh, will release through First Run in New York City.

Acclaimed Danish director Susanne Bier "refreshes the conventions and clichés of the rom-com" with Love Is All You Need (4 theatese), according to FJI's Erica Abeel. Sparks fly at a wedding, but it's not the couple at the altar--it's the father of the groom (Pierce Brosnan) and the mother of the bride (Trine Dyrholm).

Playing hitman Richard
Kuklinski "with an
unsettling tunnel-vision intensity," Michael Shannon turns in a stellar performance in The Iceman (4 theatres), according to our critic Michael Sauter. Although he thought the movie had flaws, including a lack of "dramatic depth and intensity" compared to the best anti-hero movies, like Taxi Driver and Serpico, Shannon's performance is not one of them. In a leading role, he only confirms his "powerful, often scary
presence as an onscreen character actor."

An update of the Henry James novel What Maisie Knew will open in New York City. Set in the Big Apple, the story centers on a young girl who is shuttled between her self-centered, divorced parents.

On Monday, the big question will be just how high Iron Man 3 can go in his jetpack. $150 million is the insider target figure for a wow-worthy debut.