Sandler’s PG-13 comedy has shot at overtaking DreamWorks Animation PG-rated panda

By Robin Rowe

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 6/7/08 – Paramount is reportedly expecting a $60+ million weekend for ‘Kung Fu Panda’. That would put it in ‘Finding Nemo’ territory ($60 million). Despite an impressive $20 million Friday, expect ‘Kung Fu Panda’ to lose steam. Look for a $50 million weekend like ‘Ratatouille’ ($47 million).

The ‘Kung Fu Panda’ animation is beautiful, and Po seems likable. But, Jack Black’s pot-bellied panda is the same “decade of the zero” flabby slacker we keep encountering in films such as ‘Knocked Up’. The loser hero is popular with critics lately. Not so great for kids is the it’s-ok-to-be-a-glutton message and violence of ‘Kung Fu Panda’. Worse, it’s not funny enough or deep enough to hold adults.

Columbia’s ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ is Adam Sandler’s farcical comedy about an Israeli commando who fakes his own death in order to pursue his dream of being a hairdresser in New York City. ‘Entourage’ hottie co-star Emmanuelle Chriqui looks great on screen and was “a presence” on the set, according to Sandler. Look for an opening weekend of $45 million, coming close to ‘Kung Fu Panda’. Sandler’s ‘Anger Management’ opened at $42 million.

Paramount’s ‘Indiana Jones’ continues to dominate theater counts in its third week. Last week it drew $45 million to bring its take to $215 million. Look for ‘Indiana Jones’ to add another $20 million this weekend.

New Line’s ‘Sex and the City’ surprised many last weekend with it’s $57 million opening, tracking very strongly with female audiences of all ages. Look for ‘Sex and the City’ to add another $30 million this weekend.

Rogue Pictures’ Liv Tyler slasher, ‘The Strangers’, did a better than expected opening last week with $21 million. Being poorly lit apparently didn’t hurt this horror film, as Liv Tyler fans flocked to see her first picture in years.

The big openings next week are Universal’s ‘The Incredible Hulk’ and Fox’s ‘The Happening’.

Lee Angst’s ‘Hulk’ in 2003 opened at $62 million, before retreating to a domestic total of $132 million. That sounds good until you take into account that film’s $137 million production budget. ‘The Incredible Hulk’ 2008 stars Ed Norton, Liv Tyler and Tim Roth.

Fox’s R-rated thriller ‘The Happening’ stars Mark Wahlberg.

Friday June 6 Box Office

Kung Fu Panda (Paramount (DreamWorks)) $20 million
You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (Sony Columbia) $14.9 million
Sex and the City (New Line) $7.3 million
Indiana Jones (Paramount) $6.5 million
The Strangers (Rogue Pictures) $3.1 million
Iron Man (Paramount) $2.2 million
Narnia: Prince Caspian (Buena Vista) $1.7 million
What Happens in Vegas (Fox) $1.1 million

Wide Release Theater Counts June 6

Indiana Jones (Paramount) 4,190 (-74) 3
Kung Fu Panda (Paramount (DreamWorks)) 4,114
You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (Sony Columbia) 3,462
Sex and the City (New Line) 3,325 (+40) 2
Narnia: Prince Caspian (Buena Vista) 3,065 (-736) 4
Iron Man (Paramount) 2,931 (-719) 6
The Strangers (Rogue Pictures) 2,477 (+11) 2
What Happens in Vegas (Fox) 2,366 (-720) 5

Dropping from Wide Release

Baby Mama (Universal) 921 (-863) 7
Speed Racer (Warner Bros.) 855 (-1215) 5
Made of Honor (Sony Columbia) 740 (-1165) 6

Wide Release Theater Counts Opening June 13

The Incredible Hulk (Universal) 3,400+
The Happening (Fox) 3,000

Data Source: Box Office Mojo