By Chris Kavan - 09/19/13 at 08:56 AM CT
After Insidious 2 lit up the box office last weekend, how will it fare in its second week? Will, like The Conjuring, will it be able to buck horror movie trends and retain a good chunk of its audience or will it sink like a stone? I have a feeling the two new films being released won't offer nearly as much of a challenge. One is star-studded thriller that none-the-less looks to be completely by-the-books and the other is a dance battle film - and no, it's not another Step-Up movie this time. Whatever the case, this weekend may be the slowest yet for the year as September often brings.
PRISONERS When you have a cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo and Viola Davis - you expect some acting fireworks. However, I haven't heard a lot about the upcoming Prisoners and what I have seen makes everything look dark and murky (on purpose!). I have a feeling this crime/thriller is actually going to be pretty good - but the marketing effort has been a tad underwhelming to say the least. For that reason alone I doubt that Prisoners is going to make much of an impact at the box office despite the star power behind it. It could potentially open at the top - but even if it does, expecting well under $20 million. A budget is not available, though I'm guessing its on the lower end (even with the stars involved). Still, this is exactly the kind of movie that is released in September due to lowered expectations and I suspect the film will sadly follow that trajectory at the box office.
BATTLE OF THE YEAR I have never been a fan of movies where the word "dance battle" is included anywhere in the synopsis. It just isn't my cup of tea. But somehow they made four Step-Up films and now we have the spiritual successor Battle of the Year. Despite the fact that one of my favorite characters from my favorite TV show Lost is leading the charge (that would be Josh Holloway), I don't think I'll ever have the notion to watch this. Dance movies are funny - they can draw in a crowd or they can be ignored entirely. Given the delay on releasing this film, I have a feeling it's not going to do so hot in theaters. But I have been surprised in the past, so don't count anything out.
I have a feeling we're going to be looking at a pretty quiet weekend. I don't think either of the two new wide release films are going to have wide appeal and Insidious 2 could easily keep the top spot, even if it falls like a typical horror film does in its second week. I'll be back Sunday with the final results.
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