Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper was already going to have a great weekend for its wide release, but now it could do even better after yesterday’s Oscar nominations. The Bradley Cooper-starring movie is hoping to set a new record for January.
Sniper, which was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, already grossed $3.4 million in a limited release at just four locations. This weekend, the film will be playing at 3,555 locations. While Bo Office Mojo predicted a $42 million opening over the weekend, it’s safer to bet closer to $50 million.
The film has a lot going for it, including one of America’s most popular stars in the leading role. Plus, Warner Bros. has made a point of slapping attention-grabbing critic quotes in trailers. Overall, the marketing team has done well to show that Eastwood tries to humanize the late Chris Kyle, the real-life sniper Cooper plays.
Kevin Hart had a movie opening on the exact same weekend last year and he’s got another one - The Wedding Ringer. Sure the reviews are awful, but audiences still like him. Entertainment Weekly predicts a $25 million opening.
The Weinstein Company’s Paddington has already been a success in the character's native U.K. Now, it’s time to see if the film can draw U.S. audiences. It has been surprisingly drawing good reviews. That will help, along with the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Expect somewhere around $20 million for this one.
Taken 3 is probably going to hang around for its second weekend, while Selma should hang around during the holiday.
The other new movie opening this weekend is Michael Mann’s Blackhat, which looks like it will draw fans of the Collateral director and that’s about it. While Chris Hemsworth is the star, the film has earned mostly negative reviews. It will be lucky to open with $10 million.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com