The end nigh. Will the box office go out with a bang? Even with heavy hitters like “Les Misérables,” “Django Unchained,” and “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” it’ll be a so-so end to 2012.
After a record-breaking Christmas Day opening, “Les Misérables” will undoubtedly come out on top. Should its $6,450 holiday opening get a $4,000 boost, it’ll take $30 million for the full weekend. Even though “Django” was just $3 million behind “Les Mis” on opening day, that gap will widen a bit for the full weekend, “Django” posting something more along the lines of $25 million.
After a brutal 56.3% weekend one to two drop, things will improve a bit for “The Hobbit.” Should it lose 40% of its $36.9 million weekend two haul, it’ll take another $22 million to the bank. “Parental Guidance” has held up pretty well thus far, but hopefully it’ll be able to bump its rather weak per theater average up to about $3,000 by Friday so it can take at least $10 million for the full weekend. As for “Jack Reacher,” things won’t improve much after its lackluster opening. With “Django” and “The Hobbit” snagging most of the action-seekers’ cash, “Jack Reacher” might be left with a 45% hit and only $8.5 million for its second weekend out.
“This Is 40” looks to come in at #6 and even though it didn’t have the greatest start, the lack of new adult comedy competition should let it hold onto 60% of its opening profits, but $7 million still won’t be enough to steal the 5th spot from “Jack Reacher.” Speaking of the lack of comedy competition, “The Guilt Trip” is going down and it’s going down fast. “Lincoln” already managed to pass it on the daily charts and both “Monsters, Inc. 3D” and “Rise of the Guardians” have a good shot at doing the same come the weekend. “Lincoln” looks to be able to secure the 7th spot with another $3.5 million while “Rise of the Guardians” will come in just behind with $3 million flat. Even though “Monsters, Inc.” had a subpar start, a far slower decline should help it top “The Guilt Trip.” Should the former lose 40% and the latter 50%, “Monsters” will take 9th with about $2.8 million and “The Guilt Trip” will round out the top ten with $2.5 million.
Shockya.com Predictions
1. Les Misérables
2. Django Unchained
3. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
4. Parental Guidance
5. Jack Reacher
6. This Is 40
7. Lincoln
8. Rise of the Guardians
9. Monsters, Inc. 3D
10. The Guilt Trip
By Perri Nemiroff (via Box Office Mojo)
