UPDATE: “Oz” easily wins Friday with $11.4 million. Here’s where it gets interesting: “The Call” came in second with $6.2 million, crushing “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” which only efforted $3.7 million. Early Weekend Estimates show just $11 million for “Wonderstone”, putting the magician comedy at “Bomb” status. “The Call” is set to make $17 million (my exact prediction) and “Oz” right around $41M (also very close w/prediction). 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, I just wish “Wonderstone” was a hit because it’s a very funny film.
“Oz: The Great and Powerful”‘s $79 million open (I missed by only $3M) finally put some life in the 2013 box office. Will the Wizard be struck down by this weekend by another magician or even an Academy Award winner? It’s B.O. Prediction Time!
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” is Steve Carell’s first starring role in a comedy since 2011’s “Crazy, Stupid, Love”. This “magical” farce also stars Steve Buscemi (Mr. “Boardwalk Empire”), Olivia Wilde (who desperately needs a hit), Alan Arkin (hot right now thanks to “Argo”) and Jim Carrey, making his first big-screen appearance since 2011’s “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”. “Wonderstone” has a pretty good trailer and the cast has been doing a lot of publicity work. I don’t see why it can’t make $22 million this weekend. Anything short of that will be a big disappoint for Warner Bros. considering it’s in over 3,100 theaters.
“The Call” is loos like an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Oscar-winner Halle Berry stars as a 911 operator who gets calls from victims of a serial killer. Abigail Breslin plays a kidnapped girl who Berry’s character helps fight back. There’s a built-in horror films audience (the ones who have already gone to, among others, “Mama” and “Texas Chainsaw 3D” this year AND thrillers, such as “Side Effects”. Berry really needs a hit: her last was 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand”. This has the potential to become a franchise (another “Taken”?). I think “The Call” opens well, but not as strong as “Wonderstone” – right around $17 million.
But neither will be able to conquer The Great and Powerful, as “Oz” will contuinue it’s reign as Box office king, raking-in another $42 million. That will put its 2-week domestic total close to $150 million. No wonder a sequel has already been announced.