‘X-Men: First Class’ may top the box office but have the lowest opening in the series
A band of young mutants won’t face any deadly rivals at the box office this weekend, but it may still fall short of the mark set by previous “X-Men” movies.
“X-Men: First Class” is the only new film opening nationwide Friday, and it is expected to top the box office with $55 million to $60 million, according to several people who have seen pre-release audience surveys. Twentieth Century Fox, the studio behind the film, is predicting a more conservative opening of $48 million to $54 million.
Even if it opens at the high end of predictions, “First Class,” a prequel that tells the origins of the superhero team in the 1960s, will have the lowest opening of any “X-Men” film since the 2000 original. “X-Men” premiered to $54.5 million but went on to gross $296.3 million worldwide.
It also would be a less-than-impressive start given that Fox and co-financers Dune Capital Management and Ingenious Media spent a hefty total of about $160 million, before tax credits, to produce the picture.
The biggest opening in the franchise came in 2006 with its third installment, “X-Men: The Last Stand,” which opened to $105.8 million and ultimately raked in $459.4 million globally. While that movie, directed by Brett Ratner, grossed the most of any film in the series, it was received poorly by critics and left a sour taste in the mouths of fanboys. That ill will may have contributed to a lower $373.1-million total for 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
Fox executives believe the fifth “X-Men” film will have a smaller opening in part because it does not feature A-list stars like Hugh Jackman, who has played Wolverine in the last four pictures. Instead, the movie has a cast of lesser-known performers, including recent Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, British star James McAvoy, independent film actor Michael Fassbender, “Mad Men’s” January Jones and Kevin Bacon.
Even if the film, which has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, gets off to a so-so start in the U.S. and Canada this weekend, it will probably do solid business overseas. The film is opening in 75 foreign territories this weekend, including Brazil, Russia and France.
Hollywood executives will also be closely watching how many moviegoers see “The Hangover Part II” on its second weekend in release. Ticket sales for the original 2009 “Hangover” fell only 27% on its second weekend, but the sequel will probably take a bigger fall after its big $86-million opening.
DreamWorks Animation and distributor Paramount Pictures are hoping that “Kung Fu Panda 2” ticket sales decline only slightly after the movie’s so-so $47.7-million opening. People who saw it last weekend gave the animated comedy an average grade of A, indicating that word of mouth should be strong.
