Box Office Preview:
With the box office in bad shape, this weekend's openers have their worked cut out for them, but still offer a decent mix of genres for those willing to step into theaters. Warner Bros. Pictures' Trouble with the Curve helmed by Robert Lorenz opens in the largest theater count, debuting in 3,212 theaters with a a cast headed by Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman and Matthew Lillard. Lorenz makes his theatrical directing debut on the baseball film which should compete with Relativity Media's House at the End of the Street in the mid-high teen figures. The latter directed by Mark Tonderai opens in 2,730 theaters, with the currently very-popular Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence on board as well as Elisabeth Shue and Max Thieriot.
Lionsgate's Dredd starring Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby and Lena Headey finds 2,506 theaters, with 2,200 of which are 3D offerings. The sci-fi pic helmed by Pete Travis from the writing by Alex Garland, based on the John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra's revered comic strip, also includes Jason Cope, Joe Vaz, Rakie Ayola, Warrick Grier, Wood Harris, Domnhall Gleeson and Luke Tyler. Pic targets male audiences from their mid-20s upwards to older fans of the classic comic brought to screen
Gritty crime thriller End of Watch from Open Road Films has 2,730 theaters for its opening with Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña leading Anna Kendrick, Frank Grillo and America Ferrera.
Indie-wise, there's a buffet of openers making their into theaters. Check them all out in the Upcoming Movies Page, sort by week, and by upcoming months. Check back on the weekend for Friday and Sunday box office estimates.