Box Office Predictions »

Halloween slowed down box office figures, but Michael Jackson's This Is It still managed the top honors for the weekend. Here's the top five:

1. Michael Jackson's This Is It: $23.2 million (total of $34.4 million)
2. Paranormal Activity: $16.3 million
3. Law Abiding Citizen: $7.4 million
4. Couples Retreat: $6.4 million
5. Where the Wild Things Are: $5.9 million

With only one wide release last week studios are making up for it with four new flicks this week.

The Box:
What's It All About: A couple in a tough financial situation are given a box that will grant them riches, except every time they use it someone somewhere will die.
Why It Might Do Well: Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly is at the helm, with a script based on a Richard Matheson story.
Why It Might Not Do Well: 55% at Rottentomatoes.com.
Number of Theaters: 2,500
Prediction: $16 million

A Christmas Carol:
What's It All About: Jim Carey stars in several roles in this 3D animated version of the classic Dickens Christmas tale.
Why It Might Do Well: This Robert Zemeckis guy has got some decent flicks on his resume.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Good lord, how many times has this been adapted before?
Number of Theaters: 3,500
Prediction: $42 million

Once again Paranormal Activity took everyone by surprise by not only taking top honors for the week, but by pushing Saw VI into second place where it experienced the weakest opening weekend in the history of the franchise. Last week's three other new flicks Astro Boy, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, and Amelia all failed to hit the top five, but here are the ones that did:

1. Paranormal Activity: $21.1 million
2. Saw VI: $14.1 million
3. Where the Wild Things Are: $14 million
4. Law Abiding Citizen: $12.4 million
5. Couples Retreat: $10.6 million

Just one new flick going into wide release this week.

Michael Jackson's This is it:
What's It All About: This documentary consists of rehearsal and interview footage shot in the months prior to the King of Pop's death.
Why It Might Do Well: Jackson's following was large and loyal and this is the only major release coming out this week.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Not enough scenes with Bubbles the Chimp? No, I don't think even that will keep this one from raking it in.
Number of Theaters: 3,400
Prediction: $42 million

Things went wild this past weekend as Where the Wild Things Are took top honors. The action flick Law Abiding Citizen also premiered well and Paranormal Activity continues to astound, taking third place while only playing in 760 theaters. Here's the top five:

1. Where the Wild Things Are: $32.7 million
2. Law Abiding Citizen: $21 million
3. Paranormal Activity: $19.6 million
4. Couples Retreat: $17.2 million
5. The Stepfather: $11.6 million

Four new releases this week, three of which will be putting the Halloween spirit into people.

Amelia
What's It All About: Hilary Swank and Richard Gere star in this biopic of aviator Amelia Earhart who disappeared during an attempt to fly around the world.
Why It Might Do Well: A historical drama is a pretty good counter programmer to all the horror and fantasy movies currently in release.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Right now we're looking at 17% at Rottentomatoes.com.
Number of Theaters: 800
Prediction: $6 million

Astro Boy
What's It All About: Adaptation of the classic anime (that itself takes a page from Pinocchio) about a robot boy with incredible powers.
Why It Might Do Well: 73% at Rottentomatoes.com ain't too shabby.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Will this character that originated in the 1950s translate well in the twenty-first century?
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $16 million

This being Halloween month it does my heart good to see that the walking dead rule the box office. The horror comedy Zombieland took top honors, finally pushing Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs to number two after the animated comedy had enjoyed two weeks at number one. Here's the top five:
1. Zombieland: $24.7 million
2. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: $15.8 million
3. Toy Story / Toy Story 2: $12.5 million
4. Surrogates: $7.2 million
5. The Invention of Lying: $7 million

Just the one film going into wide release this week:

Couples Retreat
What's It All About: A comedy about four couples heading to a tropical paradise for sun, sand and surf. Unbeknownst to most of them, however, is that participation in the resort's couples therapy is mandatory.
Why It Might Do Well: The cast includes Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, and Kristen Bell, all of whom I have found entertaining at one point or another.
Why It Might Not Do Well: There are only three reviews posted so far so this isn't very scientific, but Rottentomatoes.com is giving this 0%.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $22 million

3D animation was the way to go this weekend, with Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs taking a wide lead over the three other new releases. Tyler Perry's latest flick surrendered the number one spot but still managed to hang on to third place. Here's the top five:

1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: $30.3 million
2. The Informant!: $10.4 million
3. Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself: $9.8 million
4. Love Happens: $8 million
5. Jennifer's Body: $6.9 million

Three new releases this week, including a teen dance flick and two -- count 'em, two -- science fiction movies.

Fame
What's It All About: Remake of the 1980 classic about a group of young people attending a high school for the performing arts.
Why It Might Do Well: This will appeal to a younger crowd that has probably never seen the original, so for them at least it won't carry the stigma of a remake.
Why It Might Not Do Well: The Fame TV series got pretty dopey in the later seasons and I might not be the only one who remembers that.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $22 million

Pandorum
What's It All About: Two astronauts awaken from hyper-sleep on a ship in deep space with no memory of who they are or what their mission is.
Why It Might Do Well: Looks like a good rollicking creep-fest set in space.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Might two science fiction movies in one week be pushing it?
Number of Theaters: 2,400
Prediction: $9 million

For the fifth time Tyler Perry scored a number one opener which was followed by the animated science fiction flick 9 in second place. Last week's other new releases, Sorority Row and Whiteout, missed the top five, landing in sixth and seventh place respectively. Here's the top five:

1. Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself: $23.4 million
2. 9: $10.7 million
3. Inglourious Basterds: $6.1 million
4. All About Steve: $5.6 million
5. The Final Destination: $5.5 million

Another four new releases this week:

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
What's It All About: In this animated feature a young inventor builds a machine that causes food to rain from the sky.
Why It Might Do Well: It's based on a beloved kid's book and presented in 3D. The presence of Bruce Campbell in the voice cast is icing on the cake.
Why It Might Not Do Well: People with food allergies may be leery of this one.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $32 million

The Informant
What's It All About: A corporate whistle-blower thinks his cooperation with the FBI will make him a hero to the people, but it only serves to expose his own impropriety.
Why It Might Do Well: Steven Soderbergh, the director of Oceans 11 -13 is behind the camera, with Matt Damon adding star power in front of it. Also, Rottentomatoes.com gives it a 75% Fresh rating.
Why It Might Not Do Well: The mustache and glasses give Damon a kind of creepy uncle look.
Number of Theaters: 2,400
Prediction: $15 million

Last week's new releases took a pummeling from the holdovers from the previous weeks. None of last week's newbies did better than third, with Mike Judge's new comedy Extract landing way back in ninth place. Here's the top five:

1. The Final Destination: $15.3 million
2. Inglourious Basterds: $14.9 million
3. All About Steve: $14 million
4. Gamer: $11.2 million
5. District 9: $9.1 million

Four new ones this week.

9
What's It All About: Animated feature based on director Shane Acker's short film of the same name. In a post-apocalyptic future where humanity seemingly no longer exists, a group of rag doll-like creatures band together to survive the onslaught of machines intent on their destruction.
Why It Might Do Well: Based on the trailer this looks like an imaginative and beautifully designed film and it doesn't hurt that one of the producers is Tim Burton.
Why It Might Not Do Well: 59% at Rottentomatoes.com is a little discouraging.
Number of Theaters: 1,638
Prediction: $9 million

Sorority Row
What's It All About: A crazed killer is messily dispatching college students who were responsible for the death of a schoolmate.
Why It Might Do Well: Maybe the folks who went to see Halloween 2 are still in the mood for some slice 'em dice 'em action.
Why It Might Not Do Well: No star power and a story that looks even less original than most slasher films.
Number of Theaters: 2,500
Prediction: $8 million

Last week's scream-off finished with the new Final Destination flick beating out Rob Zombie's Halloween sequel by about $11 million. Here's the top five:

1. The Final Destination: $27.4 million
2. Inglourious Basterds: $19.3 million
3. Halloween II: $16.3 million
4. District 9: $10.3 million
5. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra: $7.7 million

Three new releases this week, two looking for laughs and another providing futuristic thrills.

All About Steve
What's It All About: Sandra Bullock stars as a love-struck crossword puzzle designer who falls obsessively in love with with a news camera man played by Bradley Cooper.
Why It Might Do Well: The film gets points for having Thomas Haden Church in the cast.
Why It Might Not Do Well: I'm sorry, but this looks just dreadful.
Number of Theaters: 2,000
Prediction: $12 million

Extract
What's It All About: Jason Bateman plays the owner of a flower extract plant whose life begins going to hell when an injured employee sues the company.
Why It Might Do Well: Mike Judge of Beavis and Butthead and Office Space is behind the camera. Bateman is joined by Ben Affleck (who still rocks despite some career killing over exposure) and the lovely Mila Kunis.
Why It Might Not Do Well: People seem to either love or hate Judge's Idiocracy. Might this new film have the same polarizing effect?
Number of Theaters: 1,600
Prediction: $8 million

Bringing naughty words to film marquees everywhere, Quentin Tarantino's latest film not only took the lead on its opening weekend but was the only one of last week's four new releases to land in the top five:

1. Inglourious Basterds: $38.5 million
2. District 9: $18.2 million
3. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra: $12.2 million
4. The Time Traveler's Wife: $9.7 million
5. Julie & Julia: $8.8 million

Halloween is coming early this year and to celebrate we've got two films competing to scare the pants off us.

The Final Destination
What's It All About: In this fourth installment of the horror franchise a group of teens cheat death at a racetrack only to find that the grim reaper will track them down eventually.
Why It Might Do Well: Dude, it's in 3D!
Why It Might Not Do Well: The only thing the series ever had going for it was spectacular death scenes. Might this premise be running out of steam?
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $26 million

Halloween 2
What's It All About: In this sequel to Rob Zombie's Halloween remake, Michael Myers is not nearly as dead as we were led to believe and he continues his reign of terror.
Why It Might Do Well: Despite grumbling from a lot of horror fans, the previous film took in about $80 million worldwide and had a $26 million opening weekend.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Personally, I was lukewarm on Zombie's Halloween and don't feel it warrants a sequel.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $22 million

Only two of last week's new releases managed to hit the top five. The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Ponyo and Bandslam took sixth, ninth and thirteenth respectively. Here's the top five:

1. District 9: $37.4 million
2. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra: $22.3 million
3. The Time Traveler's Wife: $18.6 million
4. Julie & Julia: $12 million
5. G-Force: $6.9 million

Four more new releases this week:

Inglourious Basterds
What's It All About: Quentin Tarantino's hotly anticipated World War II actioner. Brad Pitt plays a U.S. officer who leads a group of Jewish-American soldiers behind enemy lines to commit acts of retribution.
Why It Might Do Well: Tarantino brought us Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill movies. Also, Rottentomatoes.com gives it 81%.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Tarantino's Death Proof was painfully talky at times.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $28 million

Post Grad
What's It All About: Alexis Bledel plays a recent college grad who finds the real world more challenging than she expected.
Why It Might Do Well: Bledel was adorable on Gilmore Girls and her politically incorrect grandmother is being played by Carol Burnett.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Do moviegoers really want to be reminded of the crappy job market?
Number of Theaters: 1,900
Prediction: $7 million