Weekend Forecast: 'Elysium', 'Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters', 'Planes', & 'We're the Millers'

Featured Stories - on August 06, 2013 by BOXOFFICE Staff

aug9.pngFour new films join the August marketplace this weekend as Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and We're the Millers open on Wednesday, August 7, followed by Elysium and Planes on Friday, August 9.

Elysium

PROS:

- Matt Damon and Jodie Foster give the film some needed star power.
- Writer/Director Neill Blomkamp found a great deal of success with 2009's District 9.
- The large scope of the film may give it a "last big summer movie" feel for audiences.
- Flixster activity is particularly strong. 

CONS:

- The glut of sci-fi movies this year could diminish upfront demand.
- The market has been very crowded of late, and will continue to be with four new openers this week.
- Twitter activity has been modest. 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

PROS:

- The first film was a modest hit in 2010.
- Young adult audiences could be looking for something new this weekend. 
- The established book series has its share of fans. 

CONS:

- Do audiences still remember the first film enough to check out its sequel?
- It could struggle to pull families away from Planes.

Planes

PROS:

- The Disney brand name.
- Past "franchise" success with Cars.
- The lackluster performance of Turbo and The Smurfs 2. 

CONS:

- Could struggle to pull families away from Percy Jackson.
- The lack of any involvement from Pixar.
- The lackluster performance of Turbo and The Smurfs 2.  

We're the Millers

PROS:

- It's been awhile since a major comedy opened. Audiences may be somewhat eager for a new one.
- Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston give the film a quasi-Horrible Bosses sequel feel.
- Marketing has emphasized the right comedic notes. 
- Twitter tracking has been strong. 

CONS:

- Will struggle to pull male audiences away from Elysium.
- Sudeikis hasn't proven himself as a leading man at the box office yet.
- Poor reviews could counter some of the buzz with so many new releases this weekend. 

Check out our forecast for these films and the remainder of the top 10 in the table below.

Title Release Date Distributor Opening Weekend Domestic Total through Sunday, August 11
Elysium Aug 9, 2013 Sony / Columbia
 $34,500,000 $34,500,000
We're the Millers Aug 7, 2013 Warner Bros. / New Line
 $21,500,000 $32,000,000
Planes Aug 9, 2013 Disney
 $21,000,000 $21,000,000
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Aug 7, 2013 Fox
 $19,500,000 $31,000,000
2 Guns Aug 2, 2013 Universal
 $12,800,000 $51,000,000
The Wolverine Jul 26, 2013 Fox
 $11,000,000 $115,800,000
The Smurfs 2 Jul 31, 2013 Sony / Columbia
 $9,300,000 $46,000,000
The Conjuring Jul 19, 2013 Warner Bros. / New Line
 $7,500,000 $121,900,000
Despicable Me 2 Jul 3, 2013 Universal
 $6,000,000 $338,500,000
Grown Ups 2 Jul 12, 2013 Sony / Columbia
 $4,800,000 $125,200,000

Daniel Garris and Shawn Robbins contributed to this report.

Tags: Planes, We're the Millers, Elysium, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

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