Each week Jacob recaps the weekend box office and the winners and losers in the Midnight Warrior Fantasy Movie League.
WEEK 10 BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN
Sell hello to one of the most bankable star in Hollywood these days… Andy Dwyer. I’m still a little amazed that Chris Pratt is this beloved. It’s not that he doesn’t have the talent, looks, or personality, because he has everything. Just when I started watching Parks and Recreation, I never would have guessed that he could helm the $145 million opening of one of the most massive sequels of the year. So, until the Burt Macklin bio-pic lands in theaters, let’s be happy that James Gunn found our man for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
Everybody had Guardians in their lineup this week, and Sunday became the day to play it. I totally called it… even if I took a massive swing and a miss on How To Be A Latin Lover. I’m going to say that Fate of the Furious was helped by the sellout Guardians crowd looking for something else to see. That’s not something you can really predict, but I’m sure it helped sell thickets this week.
The final film was Born in China, or, as we like to call it, “slightly better than a $2 million blank screen”. I’m also going to go out on a limb and say nobody who showed up to a sold out Guardians fell back to see this film. But maybe it was boosted by the “teenagers looking for a place to make out” crowd. But, then again, there’s always Unforgettable for that.
As for the War Starts at Midnight league, we only had one of our players find the Perfect Cineplex this week. Congratulations to Exxdee’s Everything, Everything Cinema Forum. I have no clue how a cineplex can also be a forum, but maybe it has that Roman city square feel to it.
On the season, we have Madison Sandwich Madness as the current king of the mountain and 19th overall. He’s leading a pack of 27 Midnight Warriors who have a billion dollar cineplex already this year. Another interesting fact is that 26 of our players fall in the top 500 overall players for the season. So congratulations on setting very strong lineups week after week.
WEEK 11 PREDICTIONS
This is one of the tougher weeks I can remember. Guardians is almost a must play, but with new movies coming out, I can see the arguments for other anchors. Let’s run down the new releases as always.
- Snatched ($210) – With 3,500 theaters, this could steal away a BP bonus and a 4x anchor play with low-end fillers is very realistic. But, I don’t know that this is going to be the next Trainwreck or Bridesmaids. Maybe I don’t have faith in Amy Schumer to put butts in the seats for this one, but if you do, for sure play the 4x. That may be where I end up because at this point I need a Hail Mary to even come close to a season win in any of my leagues.
- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword ($201) – Let’s look at the top stories when you google this movie and all collectively decide not to play it.
- Lowriders ($13) – Only in 275 theaters, this will have trouble finding a BP bonus, which is what it needs to be a solid low-end filler. Also, from the trailer, it doesn’t look to have any prestige appeal, and also seems to have very low awareness. Personally, I’m avoiding this one unless some crazy number comes out Friday morning.
This leaves me at what I would consider a pretty safe lineup: bankable Guardians of the Galaxy, bald men and bald tires for Fate of the Furious, and cheapo fillers of your choice. I have Boss Baby and Gifted because I’ve been burned by low-end children’s movies for as long as I’ve played FML. Yes, I’m looking at your Storks.
Think Fate can’t find the PC again? Know what film will? Tell me about it on twitter @jakerg23.