'Shazam!' Heads for Opening Weekend of $ 45 Million + – Variety



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The national box office may have slow starts this year, but two genres have proven to be consistent winners: superheroes and horror.

If this trend continues, North American theaters could benefit from a well-deserved boost this weekend with Warner Bros.'s comic adventure "Shazam!" and the remake of "Pet Sematary" at Paramount Pictures, which is nationally open. Both titles debuted alongside STX's "The Best of Enemies" drama.

"Shazam!" Seems to be the big winner among newcomers. He is expected to earn between $ 45 million and $ 50 million when he debuts in 4,260 theaters in North America. Early research has suggested that comic adaptation could start with $ 40 million, but word of mouth is positive, making industry analysts more optimistic about one of DC's youngest warriors.

"Shazam!" – described as "Big" in the world of comics – is centered on Billy Baston (Asher Angel), a teenager who turns into a superhero (Zachary Levi) who slams chewing gum when someone says the magic word. Critics praised the mast for taking it a little less seriously than its superhero brothers. Variety Owen Gleiberman wrote, "The film says: You must laugh at these things. It's part of the adventure. "

If "Shazam!" Becomes a hit, it will be the third success story of DC Entertainment, the studio attempting to create an alternative to the Marvel film universe. Warner Bros. spent $ 80 million to produce "Shazam!", about half of what he spent on making "Aquaman" and "Wonder Woman". For this reason, "Shazam!" Does not need to buy the same kind of ticket. sales that Princess Diana of Gal Gadot and king of the seven seas of Jason Momoa have reported.

"Shazam!" Has already earned $ 3 million from advanced screenings. The studio has partnered with Fandango to create buzz by giving superhero fans the opportunity to see the movie two weeks before its official release.

Warner Bros. has positioned well "Shazam!" Among the many titles of superheroes arrived in theaters this year. It happens more than a month after Disney's "Captain Marvel" movie and a few weeks before "Avengers: Endgame", probably leaving enough time for the comic-book comics to have fun. It also targets an older audience than "Dumbo," the remake of Disney's live action that debuted last week. The PG film directed by Tim Burton did not spill over at the box office, bringing in $ 45 million.

Aside from the superheroes, horror is a reliable source of income. This could be a good sign for "Pet Sematary", a supernatural thriller based on Stephen King's novel. It is expected to raise about $ 20 million, although some independent box office observers estimate that the number could reach $ 25 million in the north if it is opened on 2,500 screens. "Pet Sematary" also bets on 48 international markets.

The film could however face competition from "We" Jordan Peele, who is on his third weekend of release. Universal's horror movie has raised more than $ 130 million at the national box office.

"Pet Sematary" follows a family who, when she moved to rural Maine, discovers that their new home is located near a mysterious burial site that sets off a series of horrific events. It stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz and John Lithgow. "Pet Sematary" currently holds 84% ​​on rotten tomatoes, a high score for the genre.

The final release of the weekend is "The Best of Enemies," an STX drama starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell as a human rights activist and KKK leader forced to work together to settle a decree of school desegregation ordered by the court. The wellness film, based on a true story, is expected to yield between $ 6 and $ 12 million when released on 1,705 copies. It would be a good start, given its $ 10 million price.

"Peterloo" from Amazon Studios arrives on three screens. Mike Leigh's historical drama is based on the 1918 Peterloo massacre in Manchester. "Peterloo" was presented for the first time at the Venice International Film Festival.

Elsewhere, Neon's documentary "Amazing Grace" is finally shown on the big screen 46 years after it was shot. The film captures Aretha Franklin as she records her hit album in a Baptist church. Documentaries have made a lot of ink in theaters lately. Several titles, including "RBG", "Three Unknowns" and "Will Not Be My Neighbor", became big box office hits last year.

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