Pessimism created by the disappointing “Jack and the Giant Slayer” was for naught, as multiple tracking sources report that “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” this weekend’s tentpole, will dominate at the box office.
Trade journal Variety’s story on the film predicts a bow north of $80 million, and most industry analysts are in concurrence that the opening tally will be the best for a movie of the sort since 2010’s smash “Alice in Wonderland.” That film earned $116 million in its first frame en route to a domestic total of $334 million.
But “Oz” will be the weekend’s only highlight. Tracking for “Dead Man Down,” which has been promoted by co-distributor WWE Studios, is weak, with industry sources eyeing a soft weekend bow in the $5-8 million range. With a 43% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s reviews provide no optimism regarding strong word-of-mouth.