More drudgery at the spring break box office. Five, count ’em, five wide releases are going this weekend in 1,000 theaters plus. None of them of will be able to put Disney’s embattled Snow White to sleep, that live action take of the Disney 1937 toon do around $20M hopefully in weekend 2, -53%. The princess who connects with birds and Bambis, will have a hold that’s on par to live action reimaginings of old Disney toons like Maleficent and Cinderella, which both eased -48%. Snow White remains the fairest with all the Imax and PLFs, so take that competition.
Unless something magical happens for Jenna Ortega, Rachel Zegler will have bragging rights for No. 1. The Wednesday actress’ A24 R-rated horror movie, Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd, won’t be able to budget past $5M-$7M at 3,000 sites, far below Ortega’s last two Scream movies ($30M and $44.4M respective debuts). The movie about a father, who on a business trip with his young daughter, hits a unicorn on the road, setting off a horrific chain of events, got so-so reviews out of SXSW at 59% Rotten. Another situation withering away Death of a Unicorn‘s wishful prospects is that it shares first choice with women under 25 along with Blumhouse’s PG-13 The Woman in The Yard. Yes, it’s a horror movie vs. a horror movie. The Universal release is booked at 2,800 theaters and is expected to do in the single digits. Pic from Black Adam director Jaume Collet-Serra follows a mysterious woman who repeatedly appears in a family’s front yard, often delivering chilling warnings and unsettling messages, leaving them to question her identity, motives and the potential danger she might pose. Previews are Thursday at 2PM. Death of a Unicorn has special Alamo shows tonight at 7PM with previews starting tomorrow at 4PM.
This means that second goes to Amazon MGM Studios’ A Working Man from director David Ayer and starring Jason Statham with a take between $10M-$12M. Ayer and Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay based on Chuck Dixon’s novel Levon’s Trade. Early last year, Amazon MGM Studios acquired North American theatrical distribution rights for the project before it went into production. The project reteams the studio with Ayer and Statham after the success of The Beekeeper, which grossed over $66M domestically and $162M WW. The pic is a Black Bear/Cedar ark/Punch Palace and Balboa Production. Men over 25 is the sweet spot. Critics reviews on RT are at 68% fresh which isn’t far from Beekeeper‘s 71% fresh. Previews start at 4PM tomorrow.
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Also opening at 1,017 is Sony Pictures Classics’ Peter Cattaneo directed, Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce starring, The Penguin Lessons which has 78% fresh on RT. Based on Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir of the same name, The Penguin Lessons is inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom (Coogan) discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down. Pic world premiered at TIFF. Also in the mix is Fathom’s The Chosen: The Last Supper at 2,234 locations. Both are expected to do in the single digits.
The post ‘Snow White’ In All Her Controversy To Trip Jenna Ortega’s ‘Unicorn’, Jason Statham’s ‘Working Man’ & More – Box Office Preview appeared first on Deadline.
