Weekend Outlook: January 14 - 17

Seth Rogen’s long awaited Green Hornet should open to number one this weekend after months of buzz, exciting trailers, and a starved audience of moviegoers have shown they are ready to catch a glimpse at the first big budget action blockbuster of the year. Golden Globe nominated films will likely populate the rest of top ten as the Globes hands out its awards this Sunday. In all, the diversity of films this weekend will certainly make for an exciting and powerful box office showing.

#1) The Green Hornet
Weekend Box Office: $36 - 42M

After months of mounting buzz from TV to Facebook picking Seth Rogen to star in a comic book adaptation of a well-known property to indie film director Michel Gondry signing on to direct, Green Hornet should find itself atop the box office charts this weekend. With the right project, Seth Rogen’s films usually receive a solid opening (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express). With no real competition, the lack of a real action comedy in months, the fan boys, action fans, and teen audiences should give Green Hornet an opening in the range of $36 - 42M.

#2) The Dilemma
Weekend Box Office: $16 - 19M

Just three weeks ago movie audiences showed they were not willing to shell out top dollar to lackluster comedies as evident by the under-performance of Little Fockers and Gulliver’s Travels. The Dilemma starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and Oscar winning director Ron Howard should experience the same fate, as months of bad press from Vince Vaughn's public squabble with GLAAD over the use a of gay slur in its trailers, to middling reviews should propel the film to a modest opening at best. The Dilemma’s only saving grace is its stars, Kevin James and Vince Vaughn, who will help anchor this sure to be box office misfire comedy to an opening of $16 - 19M.

#3) True Grit
Weekend Box Office: $11M

True Grit will find itself resting easily at the number 3 spot this weekend as the Golden Globes should help spark interest in the Coen Brothers latest and highest grossing film to date. True Grit has shown strong legs since its initial opening in limited release and has seen small declines since opening wide over Christmas weekend. True Grit should find itself holding strong this weekend grossing $11M and making this the first Coen Brothers film to reach over $100M over the course of their prestigious filmmaking career.

#4) Little Fockers
Weekend Box Office: $7.5M

Little Fockers has not been performing well since its opening weekend, as bad word of mouth has led the film to be the worst box office performer of the Meet The Parents trilogy. This weekend will be no different, as moviegoers will be catching up on Golden Globe nominated films, the opening of the action comedy Green Hornet, and Dilemma. Look for Fockers to gross about $7.5M.

#5) Black Swan
Weekend Box Office: $7M

The Fighter and Black Swan will battle neck to neck to in a tight race for the number 5 spot this weekend. Both films have been nominated for numerous Golden Globes, have received Oscar buzz and been producing similar box office results over the past few weeks. However, look for Black Swan to win out as Natalie Portman’s conveniently timed announcement of her pregnancy and a probable Golden Globe win this Sunday for Best Actress will help put Black Swan atop The Fighter and land at the number 5 spot with roughly $7M.

The Rest of the Top 10

#6) The Fighter
Weekend Box Office: $6.5M

#7) The Kings Speech
Weekend Box Office: $5M

#8) Tron
Weekend Box Office $4.5M

#9) Country Strong
Weekend Box Office: $4M

#10) Yogi Bear
Weekend Box Office: $3M