Fantasy Box Office: April 15-17

THE JUNGLE BOOK

Cost: 748 FML Bucks

Estimate: $78.7 million

Another new live-action remake of a classic Disney animated film.  This time, we get Jon Favreau’s take on the Rudland Kipling novel with CGI everything except Mowgli.  The 94% on the Tomatometer (at writing) might help this hit $80 million plus but I’ll stay a little cautious.  Will win the Bonus if the next movie underperforms.

BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT

Cost: 202 FML Bucks

Estimate: $24.35 million

A threequel to one of the most successful African-American franchises.  More importantly, this is the first minority-centric, non-spoof comedy in almost three months.  Look for this to possibly dominate the Bonus race.

THE BOSS

Cost: 143 FML Bucks

Estimate: $10.6137 million

A shocking victory in overall box office & in the FML Bonus contest.  Can McCarthy repeat?  After a ‘C+’ Cinemascore, not a chance.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

Cost: 116 FML Bucks

Estimate: $11.6815 million

After a shocking loss last week & three weeks of underperforming, BvS should fall a normal amount this weekend.  Right?  I mean, not enough to win the Bonus but enough to look respectable now.  Right?!

ZOOTOPIA

Cost: 93 FML Bucks

Estimate: $9.324 million

Now it it’s 7^th weekend, this overachieving Disney animated film finally has competition in THE JUNGLE BOOK.  Regardless, should have a respectable, “might be playable” weekend.

CRIMINAL

Cost: 90 FML Bucks

Estimate: $7 million

A poorly reviewed, under-marketed action movie with Costner & Reynolds.  Avoid at all costs.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2

Cost: 39 FML Bucks

Estimate: $3.368 million

This crowd-pleasing but critically reviled (including by yours truly) rom-com sequel continues to do well relative to its budget.  Another sub-50% drop this weekend & in contention as a screen filler.

MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN

Cost: 31 FML Bucks

Estimate: $3.059 million

The Christian-themed movie that won’t go away.  This is a very solid play as a screen filler.

HARCORE HENRY

Cost: 27 FML Bucks

Estimate: $2.043 million

Tainted as a failure by both box office prognosticators & FML’ers, stay away from this.

GOD’S NOT DEAD 2

Cost: 24 FML Bucks

Estimate: $2.027 million

Mean-spirited religious movie that got rejected this time around.  FML’ers should reject this too.

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT

Cost: 21 FML Bucks

Estimate: $2.1108 million

About 50% behind the pace of the first movie two years ago.  Too expensive for consideration this week.

EYE IN THE SKY

Cost: 20 FML Bucks

Estimate: $1.8824 million

Doing fairly well for a movie I’ve heard very little about.  Still not worth playing.

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Cost: 20 FML Bucks

Estimate: $1.888 million

Can this become the first movie to be part of the Perfect Cineplex for the fourth straight weekend?  Probably too expensive this week.  Too bad.

DEADPOOL

Cost: 13 FML Bucks

Estimate: $1.355 million

This is the last weekend this will torture me with its presence.  Good riddance!

HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS

Cost: 11 FML Bucks

Estimate: $0.966 million

A decent little film gets one more weekend in the spotlight.  Not worth playing though.

My Cineplex

            One projection that I have above most other players is BARBERSHOP hitting well over $21 million.  Again, the target audience has been waiting for a movie like this.  After maxing out on that, there’s about 190 bucks to divide among four screens, to be filled by one mid-range option & three low-end screens, which leads me to a lineup of:

BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT x4, BATMAN V SUPERMAN, MIRACLE FROM HEAVEN x2, DEADPOOL

Total Cost: 999 FML Bucks

Estimate After Bonus: $124.554 million

As always,

Good Luck & Buy a Winning Ticket!