‘Dukes of Hazzard’ set to hog box office glory
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Teenagers and nostalgic filmgoers will ensure a No. 1 bow at the box office for “The Dukes of Hazzard,” the only new wide release this weekend.
Industry sources are putting the opening gross for the film version of the popular ’70s show in the $25 million-$30 million range. Most have said that if the market weren’t in its depressed state, it would likely gross more than $30 million.
Current champ “Wedding Crashers” again should be able to hold strong. The Vince Vaughn- Owen Wilson comedy should grab the No. 2 spot with $15 million-$16 million. The film has grossed $125 million to date.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is expected to take the No. 3 spot with $11 million-$12 million. The Tim Burton fantasy has grossed $156 million to date.
All three films come from the Time Warner Inc. stable: Warner Bros. Pictures is handling “Dukes” and “Charlie,” while New Line Cinema has “Wedding Crashers.”
Starring Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott as the “closer than brothers” cousins, the PG-13 “Dukes” is looking to bring in the teenage crowd and people looking for a little nostalgia.
The real lure of the film seems to be the 1969 orange Dodge Charger named the General Lee and singer Jessica Simpson as the scantily clad Daisy Duke — both likely to appeal to the NASCAR demographic. Willie Nelson co-stars as Uncle Jesse, while Burt Reynolds plays the boys’ nemesis, Boss Hogg. Also returning to the big screen is Lynda Carter, playing Uncle Jesse’s love interest. Jay Chandrasekhar (“Super Troopers”) directs.
In limited release, Focus Features will bow the Cannes favorite “Broken Flowers” in 27 theaters Friday. From screenwriter-director Jim Jarmusch, the R-rated “Flowers” stars Bill Murray as a consummate bachelor who receives an anonymous pink letter with news that he has a son who might be looking for him. Julie Delpy, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange and Tilda Swinton co-star.
Picturehouse will open “The Chumscrubber” on 28 screens. The R-rated drama from director Arie Posin centers on a suburban neighborhood that is shaken up when a student is abducted. The indie film, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, was written by Zac Stanford.
Wong Kar Wai will debut his sci-fi-flavored film “2046” on four screens in Los Angeles and New York. From Sony Pictures Classics, the film centers on a writer holed up in a hotel room writing a futuristic novel and recalling his past loves.
IDP will release the Samuel Goldwyn film “Saint Ralph” in 61 theaters. The PG-13 film, directed by Michael McGowan, centers on Ralph Walker, a ninth-grader who outran everyone’s expectations in his quest to win the 1954 Boston Marathon.
Slow Hand Releasing is opening “My Date With Drew” in 58 theaters. It centers on aspiring filmmaker Brian Herzlinger, who, equipped with a video camera, spends 30 days and $1,100 on a quest to ask out Drew Barrymore.
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