‘S.W.A.T.’ Set to Explode at Box Office
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The wait is finally over for action-crazed fans who have suffered for the past two weeks without any new high-octance movie releases.
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Sony Pictures will attempt to rebound from last weekend’s dismal performance of “Gigli” with the well-marketed actioner “S.W.A.T.” Also looking to capitalize on what many call the last good weekend of the summer is Disney, which is hoping to continue its flawless summer track record with its remake of “Freaky Friday,” which opened wide Wednesday to PG audiences.
“S.W.A.T.,” which stars current “it” guy Colin Farrell and the broad-appealing Samuel L. Jackson, centers on an LAPD officer (Farrell) desperate for another chance to wear the esteemed SWAT uniform. He gets the chance when his team commander (Jackson) is assigned to recruit and train five top-notch officers for a new unit. Michelle Rodriguez and LL Cool J co-star in the film directed by feature newcomer Clark Johnson, an actor perhaps best known for his role as a cop in NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
Industry insiders expect the film, which cost in the mid-$70 millions to produce, to earn in the $25 million-$30 million range over its first three days. Based on the 1970s ABC drama, the PG-13 “S.W.A.T.” should also feel the benefits of being one of the few action movies of the summer without the once-popular but now-stigmatized sequel moniker. The film bows Friay in 3,202 theaters and should capture the top spot.
“Freaky Friday” pairs Jamie Lee Curtis with Lindsay Lohan in this remake of the 1976 comedy starring Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster as a mother and daughter who find themselves trapped in each other’s bodies. Fresh off the success of “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” and “Finding Nemo,” Disney returns with a bit of family fare, set to steal some audience away from its Miramax subsidiary’s “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.”
“Friday,” from director Mark S. Waters, best known for “Head Over Heels” and “The House of Yes,” bowed Wednesday to the tune of $6 million. Playing off its strong reviews, the comedy is on track to reap $20 million for the Friday-Sunday period and as much as $30 million for the five days.
Universal Pictures’ reigning champ “American Wedding” is likely to take the No. 3 spot with about $17 million in its sophomore session. Rounding out the top five, industry insiders anticipate a battle of the well-playing holdovers “Spy Kids,” “Pirates” and Universal’s “Seabiscuit” fighting it out for the fourth and fifth spots.
In limited release, Fox Searchlight will bow “Le Divorce,” based on Diane Johnson’s 1997 novel, in 33 theaters across the country. Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts star as American sisters figuring out the social customs of French society. Glenn Close, Stockard Channing, Bebe Neuwirth and Nick Nolte also star in the film from producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory. The PG-13 “Divorce” is targeting women in upscale markets.
Picked up by Artisan Entertainment, documentary “Step Into Liquid” will bow in select markets across the country. Centering on the true allure of surfing and its magnetic culture, “Liquid” is directed by Dana Brown, son of “The Endless Summer” director Bruce Brown. The unrated film will expand next weekend.
First Run will bow “Bor de mer” in select markets. The unrated French film centers on a fashion photographer returning to his seaside village on the Bay of Somme. Director Julie Lopes-Curval won the best first feature prize at the Cannes in 2002.
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