There are two major wide releases this weekend, giving audiences a choice between a comedian and Biblical heroes. However, it looks like Moses will win out, but not with a debut weekend as big as Noah’s.

Exodus: Gods and Kings is the latest from director Ridley Scott and stars Christian Bale as Moses, squaring off against Joel Edgerton’s Ramses. The Exodus story has been told repeatedly by Hollywood, so its success will depend on how many people really want to see that again - this time with CGI. The film has been dogged by mixed-to-negative reviews, so that will also hurt its chances.

Analysts predict a $25 million to $30 million opening, which would put it behind this year’s other biblical epic, Noah. As the Hollywood Reporter notes, Darren Aronofsky’s film opened to $43.7 million earlier this year, but only finished with $101.2 million. Exodus does have the advantage of opening later in the year, when movies typically stick around longer.

Next is Chris Rock’s Top Five. The movie jumped out of the gate when Paramount dropped $12 million to acquire it at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall, but it didn’t get any major awards nominations this week. It is only opening at 979 locations and PAramount expects it to make between $6 million to $8 million, notes Box Office Mojo.

The major limited release this weekend is Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice. It is opening at five locations in New York and Los Angeles.

Otherwise, it could be another overall quiet weekend at the box office. After Exodus, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I is expected to drop to around $10 million.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com