Each of the five previous live-action Batman films opened in the $40-million-to-$53-million range, Fellman noted.
"For us to do the kind of business some people are talking about, the total box office would have to expand close to 70%," he said, adding: "I ask you to use common sense."
If Projector did that he probably wouldn't still be in the newspaper industry.
Universal Pictures' "Mamma Mia!," adapted from the feel-good stage musical set to Abba's, um, classic songs, was produced for about $52 million, according to an executive at the studio. It got off to a roaring start last weekend overseas, and through Wednesday had grossed $41.7 million from 12 English-speaking markets. No surprise, considering the stage play has taken in more than $2 billion worldwide.
The PG-13 movie, starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan, will be huge among females over 25. Mrs. Projector has been talking it up and humming "Dancing Queen" at the breakfast table for what seems like months.
Today's other major release, 20th Century Fox's animated, G-rated "Space Chimps," looks like a non-factor. People love space; people love chimps. Put 'em together, not so much.
--
josh.friedman@latimes.com
--
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Weekend Forecast
In what could add up to a blockbuster weekend for Hollywood, the Batman adventure "The Dark Knight" is expected to open huge, while the musical "Mamma Mia!" offers a strong counterprogramming alternative. Along with the movies listed below, contenders to make the top 10 include "Meet Dave." These figures are The Times' predictions. Studios will issue weekend estimates Sunday and actual results Monday.
*--* Movie (studio) 3-day prediction(millions) Through the weekend Weeks
1 The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) $141.5 $141.5 1
2 Mamma Mia! (Universal) 29.5 29.5 1
3 Hancock (Sony) 15.0 192.8 3
4 Hellboy II: The Golden Army 12.7 59.5 2 (Universal)
5 Journey to the Center of the Earth 10.8 42.2 2 (Warner Bros.)
6 Wall-E (Disney) 9.6 182.4 4
7 Wanted (Universal) 5.7 124.1 4
8 Space Chimps (20th Century Fox) 4.7 4.7 1
9 Get Smart (Warner Bros.) 3.9 119.5 5
10 Kung Fu Panda (Paramount) 2.3 207.1 7 *--*
--
Source: Times research
--
Los Angeles Times
