Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Mr. Columnist himself presents weekly analysis and tips.

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Walleye413
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Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Walleye413 »

Happy New Year!

And good riddance to 2016. On a global scale, in terms of the loss of celebrities and other greats in the human race, and lousy news that affects us all, I’m ready for a clean slate. In terms of movies, they can tell me all they want that 2016 was the biggest year ever for movies, but that doesn’t mean they were any good!
I loved quite a few of them of course, Rogue One comes to mind. And the Oscars will fill out their slates with the usual bait (high-quality bait, but bait all the same.) But I don’t know that I’ll look back on 2016 as the best year for movies. Pretty average at best.

So, enough about 2016 – Let’s move onto 2017. Yes, the first week of the game will still be dominated by 2016 holdovers, Rogue One comes to mind, again, but there are new movies to see. Or at least, to think about seeing.

The biggest high-profile flick of the week is Underworld: Blood Wars! This is the 5th movie in the Kate Beckinsale Vampires/Lycans battle and they’ve saved the best for last! Well, no not really. But that got you pretty excited, didn’t it? Or maybe Beckinsale in spandex did that already. The plot of this one is. . . the same as every other one. There will be lots of blood and Vampire on Lycan on Hybrid violence. Kate will give it her all (Not that she’s better than this, but oh is she better than this.) The first weekend of the year usually throws out a stinker and 2017 is no different. This movie won’t cost you much in the game, but it won’t do well either, likely the worst of the series. Save your nickels. Don’t spend them here.

The first of the year usually brings an Indie film trying to cut through the post-Christmas noise as well – and we’ve got one of those too. I, Daniel Blake seems like a much better choice for your slates. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes (not always a surefire sign of a winner) Daniel Blake is a late-aged carpenter who gets injured on the job and must wind his way through the bureaucratic mess that governments have become known for. The movie has an agenda, a decidedly “liberal” one by most accounts. But a movie with a strong agenda can be compelling and challenging regardless of your personal viewpoint and this one seems to be that. The film is British but could have been shot just about anywhere in America or Western Europe, heck probably even beyond. It’ll cost the usual $4 in Ultimate and could well be worth it. Worth seeing too.

Other than that we have two rumored expansions this week. Hidden Figures, after dominating on 25(!) screens for the past 2 weeks goes wide and should make some decent noise on it’s way to a decent box office and a few Oscar nominations. A Monster Calls needs some help, and likely won’t get much – a shame considering it’s one of the most visually interesting movies of the year, and based on a fantastic kids book to boot. You win some, you lose some. Or in the case of my slates last year – you lose a lot of them.

Top 5
Rogue One
Sing
Hidden Figures
Underworld
Passengers

PTA
I, Daniel Blake
20th Century Woman
Patriot’s Day
Silence
Toni Erdmann

See you next week when things get slightly more interesting at the Cineplex, including the movie everybody’s been waiting on: Monster Trucks! 2017 – Don’t be worse than 2016!

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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Shrykespeare »

Celebrity Birthdays:

Tia Carrera turned 50 on 1/2
Dyan Cannon turned 80 on 1/4
Dustin "Screech" Diamond turned 40 on 1/7
Lyndsy Fonseca turned 30 on 1/7

David Bowie would have turned 70 on 1/8



Theater Counts:

Underworld: Blood Wars - 3,065

Hidden Figures - expands to 2,300
A Monster Calls - expands to 1,523
Patriots Day - also expands (I think)
Happy 60th birthday Jet Li! (4/26/23)

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numbersix
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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by numbersix »

Agreed on Underworld. Initially i thought it would open in the low 20s, which gave it a shot at winning the weekend, but I think the franchise is tired and the competition is fierce. Mid teens opening and out of the top 5 by next week.

Really wasn't expecting much from Hidden Figures, but predictions are really high on this one. Regret not picking it up in Ultimate and not just BO.

Also agreed on I Daniel Blake. Most of Loach's films do okay in the US, but this should triple Jimmy's Hall's PTA. As long as it doesn't open in 15 theatres like The Wind that Shakes the Barley did. Note, though, that 20th Century Women isn't included in the game.

And dammit, Shryke, why did you have to bring up Bowie's 70th. So damn tragic.

Top 5
1. Rogue One - $24m
2. Sing - $22m
3. Hidden Figures - $17m
4. Underworld 5 - $16m
5. La La Land - $9m

PTA: I Daniel Blake, Patriots Day, Silence, Toni Erdmann, Hidden Figures

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Ron Burgundy
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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Ron Burgundy »

I 2nd six comment on bowie--so bloody tragic!!

On the article, wallsy u did good. Cant say i disagree with any of yo predictions. Underworld sequel no.5, is totally unnecessary, i spose worldwide and on dvd it will make its budget back+ an extra few, which is so sad....

I took Daniel Blake in draft format, im hoping it will take the points there...

Overall, i think u r right, this weekend will perform stronger this weekend...
“One time I wrestled a giraffe to the ground with my bare hands.” — Dale

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BanksIsDaFuture
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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by BanksIsDaFuture »

La La Land is expanding into 1,500 - doubling its count. No way it does less than $16M. Most likely more.
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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Shrykespeare »

Friday Estimates


Hidden Figures, $7.6M
Rogue One, $6.1M
Sing, $5.1M
La La Land, $3.1M
Passengers, $2.7M
Why Him?, $2.1M
Moana, $1.6M
Fences, $1.4M
Assassin's Creed, $1.1M

Underworld did not report to BOM, apparently.



Weekend Projections:

Sing, $24M
Rogue One, $23.9M
Hidden Figures, $21.8M
Underworld: Blood Wars, $13M
La La Land, $10.5M
Moana, $9.1M
Passengers, $9M
Why Him?, $6.6M
Fences, $4.7M
Assassin's Creed, $3.7M



PTA:

Patriots Day, $17K
Silence, $11K
Hidden Figures, $8K
La La Land, $7K
Live By Night, $6K
Happy 60th birthday Jet Li! (4/26/23)

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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by undeadmonkey »

Wow, good for Hidden Figures.

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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Shrykespeare »

Weekend Estimates

Top 10:
5 points - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, $22.0M (now at $477M)
4 points - Hidden Figures, $21.8M
3 points - Sing, $19.6M
2 points - Underworld: Blood Wars, $13.1M
1 point - La La Land, $10M
Passengers, $8.8M
Why Him?, $6.5M
Moana, $6.4M
Fences, $4.7M
Assassin's Creed, $3.8M



PTA:
5 points - Patriots Day
4 points - Toni Erdmann
3 points - Silence
2 points - Hidden Figures
1 point - Live By Night
Happy 60th birthday Jet Li! (4/26/23)

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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Shrykespeare »

Weekend Actuals

Top 10:
5 points - Hidden Figures, $22.8M
4 points - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, $22.1M
3 points - Sing, $20.7M
2 points - Underworld: Blood Wars, $13.7M
1 point - La La Land, $10.1M
Passengers, $8.8M
Why Him?, $6.9M
Moana, $6.4M
Fences, $4.8M
Assassin's Creed, $4.2M



PTA:
5 points - Patriots Day, $14,972
4 points - Toni Erdmann, $10,472
3 points - Silence, $9,452
2 points - Hidden Figures, $9,227
1 point - Live By Night, $6,731
Happy 60th birthday Jet Li! (4/26/23)

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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by transformers2 »

I really should of taken Patriots Day in Ultimate.....
BRING BRENDAN FRASER BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN DAMN IT
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Walleye413
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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Walleye413 »

So what happened to Daniel Blake?

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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by transformers2 »

Walleye413 wrote:So what happened to Daniel Blake?
Got moved to a TBD date at the last minute
BRING BRENDAN FRASER BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN DAMN IT
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Re: Walleye's Weekly Winners: The Films of 01/06

Post by Chienfantome »

Wow, who would have thought Hidden Figures would open #1 ?
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