Director Ron Howard’s 19th century whaling film “In the Heart of the Sea” could break the long box-office winning streak of the “Hunger Games” finale, but it is still not expected to generate big ticket sales.
That will probably make for another slow weekend at the box office as all eyes in Hollywood turn to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which opens Dec. 18. Last weekend also had little new to offer moviegoers, besides the holiday-themed horror-comedy “Krampus.”
“In the Heart of the Sea” is projected to gross $12 million to $15 million Friday through Sunday during its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada. The film, which stars Chris Hemsworth, cost nearly $100 million to produce, making the release another probable box-office disappointment for Warner Bros.
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“Prospects aren’t big for this film, and if you open a week before ‘Star Wars,’ you’re going to get lost in the shuffle,” said Jeff Bock, senior box-office analyst at the tracking firm Exhibitor Relations
The studio has suffered multiple flops this year, including “Pan” and “Our Brand Is Crisis,” although it recently caught a break with the hit “Rocky” franchise spinoff “Creed.”
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Actors Liam Hemsworth, left, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson arrive for the premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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Fans take a selfie with Katniss herself, actress Jennifer Lawrence, right, at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2”
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Actress Natalie Dormer arrives for the premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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Actor Jeffrey Wright, who portrays Beetee, attends the premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” in Los Angeles.
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Actors Wes Chatham, Amandla Stenberg, center, and Patina Miller at the Los Angeles premiere.
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Actor Donald Sutherland, who portrays President Snow, attends the L.A. premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” at Microsoft Theater.
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Actor Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy) at the Los Angeles premiere.
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Josh Hutcherson poses for photographers at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
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Jena Malone takes a shot of her own as she arrives at the Los Angeles premiere. She portrays Johanna Mason in the film.
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Mockingjay pins adorned with the colors of the French flag are handed out at Microsoft Theater in a reference to the Paris terrorist attacks.
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“Hunger Games” actors Stef Dawson (Annie), from left, Wes Chatham (Castor) and Elizabeth Banks (Effie) at the L.A. premiere.
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Willow Shields, who plays Prim in the “Hunger Games” films, arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
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Actors Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks arrive for the Los Angeles premiere of the latest “Hunger Games” film.
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Jennifer Lawrence steps onto the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
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The red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at Microsoft Theater.
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Producer Jon Kilik, left, actor Liam Hemsworth, actress Jennifer Lawrence, actor Josh Hutcherson, producer Nina Jacobson and director Francis Lawrence pose at a red carpet event for the movie “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” in Beijing.
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Chinese fans try to get autographs from Jennifer Lawrence.
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Director Francis Lawrence, right, poses with Chinese fans.
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Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, right, poses for a selfie in Beijing.
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Jena Malone; Kim Ormiston, center left, and Misty Ormiston; and Sam Claflin attend the L.A. premiere of their film.
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Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence pose during the photocall in Madrid.
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Jon Kilik, left, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson
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Liam Hemsworth, left, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in Madrid.
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Director Francis Lawrence, left, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik at the Kinepolis Cinema in Madrid.
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Actors Liam Hemsworth walks ahead as Jennifer Lawrence cautions Josh Hutcherson to not step on her dress after having fallen once at the Madrid premiere.
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Jennifer Lawrence attends the world premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” in Berlin.
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Willow Shields, from left, Sam Claflin and Julianne Moore attend the world premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” in Berlin.
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Elizabeth Banks, who portrays Effie Trinket in the “Hunger Games” movies, at the Berlin premiere on Wednesday.
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Stanley Tucci, Jena Malone, center, and Natalie Dormer attend the premiere.
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Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) at the world premiere in Berlin.
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The cast and crew pose for a selfie Thursday upon arrival at the London premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.”
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Natalie Dormer, from left, Julianne Moore and Tallia Storm at the British premiere in London.
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Woody Harrelson mugs in front of costars Gwendoline Christie, from left, Natalie Dormer, Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks and Julianne Moore in London.
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Jennifer Lawrence embraces a guest on her arrival Monday at the Paris premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.”
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Liam Hemsworth, left, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson at the Paris premiere of the final “Hunger Games” film.
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Liam Hemsworth, from left, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson and director Francis Lawrence pose at the Paris premiere.
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Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet at the Paris premiere, held Monday at the Grand Rex theater.
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Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy) poses on the Paris red carpet.
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Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorn) on the red carpet at the Paris premiere.
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What face would Katniss make? The many looks of Jennifer Lawrence from the Paris premiere of the “Hunger Games” finale.
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A Paris photo call for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” draws Woody Harrelson (left, in pajama pants and socks), Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and director Francis Lawrence.
(Bertrand Guay / AFP/Getty Images) “In the Heart of the Sea” is based on the true story that inspired the celebrated Herman Melville novel “Moby Dick.” Howard is known for successes such as “A Beautiful Mind” and “Apollo 13,” but his most recent movie “Rush,” which also starred Hemsworth, was a box-office disappointment.
Howard’s new film has already begun its international march, opening earlier this month in 38 countries, although it hasn’t shown much muscle. The nautical adventure has grossed $18.5 million overseas so far, with bright spots including Russia and South Korea.
Otherwise, there’s little left to compete with “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2,” which has topped the domestic sales charts for three straight weeks and could be on its way to a fourth win in a row.
The Lionsgate movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence, has grossed about $524 million so far worldwide, including $229 million in the U.S. and Canada. Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur” has faded faster than expected, an indication that it hasn’t caught on with families.
In limited release, Paramount Pictures is opening “The Big Short,” a comedy-drama about the financial crisis in which a group of Wall Street types (played by Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell and Christian Bale) bet against the big banks and the housing market. The Adam McKay-directed picture has earned generally strong reviews.
Universal Pictures’ “Legend,” starring Tom Hardy as identical twin gangsters in 1960s Britain, is expanding to 73 theaters this weekend.
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