July 13-15: Not So Calm Before The Storm

1. Ice Age: Continental Drift - $55m (~$14,474 PTA)
2. The Amazing Spider-Man - 31.3m (-49.5%)
3. Ted - $21.7m (-32.6%)
4. Brave - $11.2m (-42.9%)
5. Magic Mike - $9.2m (-41.2%)
6. Savages - $7.9m (-50.7%)
7. Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection - 5.3m (-47.9%)
8. Moonrise Kingdom - $4m (-11.5%)
9. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - $3.9m (-48.1%)
10. Katy Perry: Part Of Me (-53.7%)





Batman will take his stand against Bane next weekend, but that doesn't mean that we'll be bored for this weekend, considering how we've got the new installment in a popular animated franchise - Ice Age: Continental Drift. I'm doing predictions early this week because I'll be out of town until Sunday. 

Ice Age: Continental Drift, the only new release this weekend, is guaranteed a top spot. This fourth installment pits Sid, Diego, & Manny against a vicious crew of prehistoric pirates. Meanwhile, Scrat, everyone's favorite saber-toothed squirrel, still seeks that coveted acorn. Despite mixed reviews and the common trend for fourth installments to dissapoint, Ice Age should be in the clear to do well. In fact, the franchise has an inexplicably huge appeal overseas. The film already has a 200m WW gross before it even hits domestic cinemas! An opening weekend slightly under Madagascar 3 & Brave seems appropriate, as does a finish of ~$180m.

If it follows the trend of Transformers 1 and 3, as well as Spider-Man 2, a drop of around 50% could be in store for Spider-Man. It could drop under that mark if it keeps close to TF1's pattern-not necessarily the same drops day to day, but a similar position when all is said and done. Expect a second weekend slightly over $30m.

After a strong hold last weekend, Ted could be sprouting some serious legs, and it could have the second best weekend hold after Moonrise Kingdom, which could lead to a total close to $200m. It won't be quite on the level of Hangover and Bridesmaids legs, but it'll still be pretty great. Speaking of Moonrise Kingdom, it's shaping up to be this year's Midnight In Paris. It wouldn't surprise me if it stuck around long enough to get past $50m, and maybe even a Best Picture nomination way into next winter.

Brave & Madagascar 3 should take something of a hit from Ice Age 4, another major animated release. Madagascar 3 will likely also lose a larger proportion theaters, so it may drop even more than Brave.

Note: You'll have to highlight some of this. I'm not quite sure what the problem is. Sorry!

Spaghetti, out.