Last week,Sensei did very well on the calls. Easily one of the best in the nation.Please note that all of the following predictions are four-day (Fri-Mon)because of the holiday weekend.
Sensei’s weekend predictions and revenue results go as follows:
1. Zero Dark Thirty ($20 million) – Film looks set to make a The Help-like run, that drama pulled two 20+weekends out of the gate. I see the same for Zero, which also has thelong holiday weekend to help get it there.
2. Mama ($18.2 million) -A lot of hype, but critical reviews so far are mixed. That puts it more inrange with a The Possession-like opening (around $17 million). I’llgive it a slight bump for the holiday weekend.
3. Broken City ($16 million) -Sensei was one of the few to correctly call Contraband winning thisweekend last year. That film’s star, Mark Wahlberg, returns but iswithout co-star Kate Beckinsale (who’s very strong in January releases).That factor alone will make a weekend win very difficult.
4. The Last Stand ($14 million) – Mostpredictors are saying the film won’t even break the $10 million markthis weekend. In Sensei’s words, “they will all be dead wrong.” ArnoldSchwarzenegger has a considerable built-in audience, and the film’smarketing has been fun. Look for Stand to beat most, if not all, boxoffice projections.
5. Silver Linings Playbook ($12.5 million) – Will it get a boost from its recent Oscar nominations? Not really. Has emergingnewcomer Jennifer Lawrence in a buzz surrounded role? That’s more likeit. For this reason, film will do very well of its theater expansion totake a top five spot.
In other calls:
Look for A HauntedHouse, to fall out of the top five altogether. Gangster Squad, willalso take the “fall out of the top five” dirt nap.
That’s Sensei’s calls.