Disney is expected to maintain its position at the top of the box office rankings for the ninth time this summer. It is projected that 20th Century Studios’ “Alien: Romulus” will surpass the fifth weekend earnings of “Deadpool & Wolverine” with an estimate of $18M against $17M. The movie, directed by Fede Alvarez, has accumulated a total box office revenue of $50.6M up to Tuesday. On the other hand, “It Ends with Us,” produced by Sony/Wayfarer Studios, is anticipated to become Blake Lively’s highest-grossing film in the domestic market, surpassing “Green Lantern” with $116.6M. The romantic drama, directed by and starring Justin Baldoni, is predicted to bring in around $13M.
Despite the strong performance of these holdovers, they are expected to face competition from three new studio releases that are projected to have a modest opening in the single-digit million range. The market conditions in late August, with many people transitioning back to school, are also expected to impact the performance of these films. Comscore data indicates that 33% of K-12 students are on break, while 58% of colleges are not in session.
Amazon MGM Studios is set to release the Zoe Kravitz-directed thriller “Blink Twice,” starring Channing Tatum. However, it is not expected to achieve blockbuster opening numbers. The movie, greenlighted under the Michael De Luca-Pam Abdy administration at MGM, features Tatum as tech billionaire Slater King, who meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) and invites her to his private island. As she begins to question her reality, Frida must uncover the truth to survive. The star-studded cast includes Alia Shawkat, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan, and Geena Davis. Despite positive critical reception with an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the marketing efforts for the film aim to attract audiences.
Lionsgate is gearing up to release the reboot of “The Crow,” starring Bill Skarsgård, known for his roles in “IT” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” However, the movie is projected to perform below the original 1994 version that opened with $11.7M. Directed by Rupert Sanders, the film follows the story of soulmates Eric and Shelly, seeking revenge after being brutally murdered. On the other hand, Sony’s faith-based film “The Forge,” directed by Alex Kendrick, is set to hit approximately 1,700 theaters. The movie centers around Isaiah, who is inspired to make positive life choices after graduating from high school with uncertainty about his future.
The upcoming summer releases are expected to bring a mix of box office results, with Disney continuing its dominance, new entries entering the market, and established franchises making a return. The performance of these films will be influenced by various factors, including audience reception, competition, and market conditions. As the summer movie season unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these predictions align with the actual box office numbers.