Box Office Preview: 'Jump Street' to leap into 1st
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sony's comedy adaptation of the 1980s TV series "21 Jump Street" should have no trouble jumping past the competition this weekend with an opening domestic gross in the $25 million to $30 million range.
Starring Oscar-nominee Jonah Hill and "Vow" heartthrob Channing Tatum, the film is a re-imagining of the series that gave Johnny Depp his start — about young cops sent undercover to bust a high-school drug ring.
"Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" enters its third weekend with a shot at adding 20 million more environmentally-friendly dollars to its ever-greening bank account.
The Universal Pictures release will continue to be the top choice for families, following another impressive mid-week performance, and should wind up with a domestic total of about $150 million by Sunday night.
Disney's mega-budget disappointment "John Carter" is expected to take in only about $15 million during its second weekend, after a weak $30 million opening. Overseas reception has been stronger, with more than $70 million earned so far, but it's probably not enough to pull the Mars adventure out of the red.
Already well in the black is Warner Bros.' "Project X," which will continue to exploit its position for a third weekend as the No. 1 R-rated comedy in the country, adding another $5 million to $7 million to its party fund. Made for a reported $12 million, the story of high school kids trying to build their reputations as the ultimate party hosts should cross the $50 million mark by Sunday.
Relativity Media's "Act of Valor" will blast its way to around $4 million, bringing its war chest to about $60 million.
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Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com and provides box office analysis for The Associated Press.
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