Terminator Salvation Expected to Top Box Office

The fourth installment in the "Terminator" series, Terminator Salvation, grossed $13.4 million at the box office on Thursday. This number puts the film on track for a five-day gross of more than $70 million, Entertainment Weekly reports.

The film's competition this weekend is the family flick, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, which opened Friday. The winner of the battle at the box office is yet to be seen, but reviews of Terminator Salvation are out.

According to Mike Moody of Airlock Alpha, Terminator Salvation, directed by McG and starring Christian Bale, is a great summer flick for its many explosions, but lacks the heart of the other films in the series.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the first day gross for Terminator fell short of any record, but it may gain enough box office strength to become Memorial Day weekend champion, with rankings based on Friday-Monday grosses.

Paramount's Star Trek and Sony's Angels & Demons are also expecting to achieve high rankings at the box office this holiday weekend.