The only record Avatar has yet to beat is the domestic box office gross of Titanic.  It’s a little over $6 million shy.

2/5

Wide

DEAR JOHN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
After meeting the girl of his dreams (Amanda Seyfried), soldier (Channing Tatum) re-enlists in the wake of 9/11.

WILL IT SUCK?
Lasse Hallstrom is usually solid in the director’s chair, even if he isn’t usually my cup of tea.  From a Nicholas Sparks novel, but before you get your Notebook panties in a bunch, it’s adapted by We Are Marshall scribe Jamie Linden.  Oh, and Richard Jenkins is up in here, too.

Early buzz not so good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Valentine’s Day might be an issue the following week, but there’s very little crossover between this and the John-Travolta-kicking-ass demo.  $40mil.

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Taken director does the buddy cop thing (John Travolta and Johnathan Rhys Meyers).

WILL IT SUCK?
This isn’t actually the first time Pierre Morel has done the buddy cop thing.  District B13 is essentially a buddy cop film that happens to have a lot of parkour.  This is not that.  It’s written by the guy who wrote the little-seen (and little thought of) Charlie Sheen vehicle Shadow Conspiracy.  At least the story comes from Luc Besson, which is usually a good thing.  Travolta should be fun to watch, though I have no idea how well Rhys Meyers will pull off the dorky hunk thing instead of the, you know, hunky hunk thing.

Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Ironically, the District B13 sequel comes out this week, too, but only in limited release.  The real challenge comes from the second frame of Edge of Darkness and, moreso, the first frame of Wolfman next week.  $63mil.

Limited

FROZEN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Three skiers get stuck on a chairlift.  Hurty things ensue.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.  From the writer/director of indie horror darling Hatchet (and yes, there will be a Hatchet 2).  Cute casting: The lead is Iceman from X-Men (Shawn Ashmore).

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Sundance buzz should help, but indie horror is a hard sell.  $1mil.

DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
More parkour bad-assery from David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli.

WILL IT SUCK?
First off, if you haven’t seen the original District B13, get on that.  Early buzz is good, but praises the stunts more than anything else.  Luc Besson does the screenplay.  Director’s a relative newcomer since the last guy to direct one of these is now directing John Travolta.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even the art house action junkies are gonna want to see From Paris With Love.  $2mil.

Next Week: Bad moon rising.

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