Despite inspiring optimism with its midnight screening numbers, the latest Friday box office data suggests “Pacific Rim” will not drastically exceed lukewarm forecasts.
Variety currently estimates the well-reviewed, big budget film’s opening weekend haul at $38 million, which falls smack dab in the middle of the anticipated $35-40 million range.
Given the strong reviews and the potential to underappreciate the film’s appeal outside the target audience, there was some hope “Rim,” with a budget in the $200 million neighborhood, would catch late fire. The $3.6 million in Thursday night tickets kept that fire burning, but it appears data for the duration of opening day was without such luster.
On the plus side, “Rim” is not falling short of its original estimates and will thus have no trouble earning more than flop “The Lone Ranger” did last Friday through Sunday.
If it stays on its current trajectory, “Rim” will likely lose a tight race to fellow newcomer “Grown Ups 2,” which, like its predecessor, still looks safe for a debut in the $40 million neighborhood.
Though its Friday number will be in the same range as that of the two new films, holdover “Despicable Me 2” is expected to pull away with family audiences on Saturday. Set to gross in the mid-to-high $40 millions this weekend, the animated flick looks set to win the weekend.
