It’s all on Hugh Jackman’s shoulders. The actor is playing Wolverine again, starring in The Wolverine, Fox’s next installment in its X-Men franchise. It hits theaters this weekend and after recent huge flops, it is up to The Wolverine to reverse that trend.
This is the second time Jackman’s Wolverine has had a solo film. The Wolverine follows 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a film that wasn’t loved by critics, but still made $373.1 million worldwide, notes THR. That movie opened to $85.1 million in May that year, a mark The Wolverine isn’t expected to hit.
James Mangold’s film is expected to gross around $65 million, although Box Office Mojo predicts over $70 million. It cost Fox at least $110 million to make.
Since The Wolverine is the only major wide release of the weekend, The Conjuring could have a stronger-than-expected second weekend. Horror films usually dive in weekend two, but this one could scare up another $20 million after strong reviews.
EW predicts that Despicable Me 2 will spend its fourth weekend in the No. 3 slot. The film has owned the box office for three weekends as big tentpoles like The Lone Ranger, Pacific Rim and R.I.P.D. have all flopped. It will probably add another $13 million this weekend.
Poor Turbo may scrape by with $11 million, while Grown Ups 2 should round out the Top 5.
Aubrey Plaza’s The To-Do List hits 591 locations and CBS Films is expecting it to make its $2 million budget back in its first weekend. The Way, Way Back and Fruitvale Station also expand this weekend and Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine debuts in New York and Los Angeles.
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