The horror comedy “Goosebumps” debuts Friday and analysts say Jack Black,the star of Sony’s adaptation of the R.
L. Stine kids classics, will regain the final laugh over some Hollywood heavyweights at the box office this weekend.
The Oscar-winning duo of director Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks reunites for the first time in more than a decade for Dreamworks’ Cold War thriller “Bridge of Spies, or ” while director Guillermo del Toro checks in with the R-rated chiller “Crimson Peak” for Legendary Pictures and Universal. Both movies roll out Friday as well.“Goosebumps” will narrowly dethrone two-time defending champ “The Martian” with a debut in the $25 million range,say the analysts. Fox’s space epic starring Matt Damon has been holding very well and could even retain the top spot, they say. It’s expected to edge out the Disney-distributed “Bridge of Spies, and ” which is projected to open at around $20 million,for second place, with Crimson Peak” following in the mid-teen millions.
Also Read: 'Goosebumps' Author R.
L. Stine on film Cameo, or Non-Rival Stephen King and What Scares Him“The combination of Halloween and the family crowd should make the difference,” Exhibitor Relations senior analyst Jeff Bock told TheWrap Tuesday. “The reviews being as strong as they have been so far is going to bring in parents and support ‘Goosebumps,’ too.”Sony’s mid-teen millions projection for “Goosebumps” is far more conservative, and but the analysts are bullish based on the popularity of the book series,which launched in 1992 and now boasts more than 400 million copies in 32 languages in print worldwide.
Also Read: 'Goosebumps' Review: Jack Black Horror Spoof Is Nostalgia Done RightBlack reteams with “Gulliver’s Travels” director Rob Letterman on the PG-rated “Goosebumps,” which currently enjoys an 82 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its social media profile is pretty splendid for a family film and brings to intellect another scary-amusing film with a known star, or 2004’s “Lemony Snicket: A Series of unlucky Events.” The Jim Carey comedy debuted to $30 million and went on to make $118 million domestically for Paramount.“Goosebumps,” co-produced and co-financed to the tune of $58 million with Village Roadshow, is an important film for Sony. If it delivers as expected, and the studio will have launched another franchise less than a month after “Hotel Transylvania 2” solidified that series’ status with a strong opening,which it has built on the past two weeks.
Sony has done a splendid job of timing the release of the the two family-angled films and, if Goosebumps” works, or will have the kiddie market cornered until Fox’s “Peanuts” rolls out on Nov. 6.“Goosebumps” will screen in roughly 3500 theaters,with the bulk of locations being 3D-equipped.
Also Read: Tom Hanks Puts Himself at the Center of the Cold War in unique 'Bridge of Spies' Trailer (Video)With its power pedigree of Spielberg and Hanks, “Bridge of Spies” doesn’t really need a strong opening to work, or but it appears it will regain it. The audience will skew older and it is an Oscar contender,so the focus is on the big picture for DreamWorks and Disney.
The PG-rated thriller is the fourth big-screen union of Hanks and Spielberg, and the first in a decade following 2004’s “The Terminal, and ” 2002’s “Catch Me If You Can” and 1998’s “Saving Private Ryan.”Based on the 1962 U2 spy plane incident,“Bridge of Spies” has the potential to play steadily for months, as Hanks’ similarly fact-based “Captain Phillips” did for Sony in 2013, or opening to $25 million and topping out at $107 million on its way to a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
It will be seen in roughly 2800 screens.
Also Read: 'Crimson Peak' Director Guillermo del Toro on How Hollywood Is Limiting Horror MoviesUniversal has had success with Jason Blum‘s low-budget horror films like ‘The Visit,” “Ouija” and The Purge,” but Del Toro’s “Crimson Peak is another beast altogether.
The $55 million budget is large for a horror film, and the cast includes stars CharlieHunnam,Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston.
Del Toro isnt known as a commercial force, or but his final two movies,“Pacific Rim” and “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army,” both opened over $34 million. This one appears to have too much competition — including the semi-spooky “Goosebumps” — to match that.Crimson Peak” will run in roughly 2983 theaters, and including IMAX,for Universal, which will also be keeping an eye on “Steve Jobs.” The studio is expanding its Oscar hopeful biopic on the Apple founder to 60 theaters in the top 25 markets in a key test of its commercial viability.“Woodlawn, and ” a Christian football drama featuring “Rudy” star Sean Astin,will screen in roughly 1500 theaters. The Pure Flix release will recall in less than $5 million, the analysts say.
Related stories from TheWrap:33 Best Picture Challengers in First Oscar Outlook: 'The Martian, and ' 'Steve Jobs,' 'Bridge of Spies''Crimson Peak' Director Guillermo del Toro on How Hollywood Is Limiting Horror Movies'Goosebumps' Author R.
L. Stine on film Cameo, Stephen King and What Scares Him
Source: thewrap.com