Trek (which was as good as Wolverine was bad) may not hit the heights I predicted, but it should easily crack $200 million, making it the most successful of the franchise by far (already it’s opening more than doubles it’s closest competitor, First Contact, which grossed $30mil. in its first frame.)  Of course, it’s also the most expensive of the franchise by far, more than double the previous record-holder, Insurrection (yes, really).

5/15

Wide

ANGELS & DEMONS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Da Vinci Code sequel (though novel was a prequel) with better hair.

WILL IT SUCK?
Director Ron Howard has built up enough good will in the second half of his career (not that the first half sucked, it just wasn’t consistent) for me to watch pretty much anything he makes.  And I didn’t exactly hate the original.  I didn’t think it was the bees knees, but it was entertaining for a spell.

Screenwriters Akiva Goldsman and David Koepp both shoot about 50% and Goldsman already wrote the first one so I wouldn’t expect much to change. Ewan McGregor, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Stellan Skarsgard should all be welcome additions to the cast.

Early buzz has this being as much an improvement over Code as Tom Hank’s hair.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If you’re going to open between Star Trek and Terminator: Salvation you might as well be a sequel to The Da Vinci Code.  Still, probably not going to be the phenom that its predecessor was.  $145mil.

Limited

THE BROTHERS BLOOM

(Moved from December)

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Dirty Rotten Indie Scoundrels

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. From Brick maestro Rian Johnson. Outfitted this time with Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi and Robbie Coltrane.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not as overshadowed here as it would have been last December. $6mil.

MANAGEMENT

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Steve Zahn stalks Jennifer Aniston, but in a cute romcom-y kind of way.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.  From the guy who wrote Tape.  But probably less creepy.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Brothers Bloom has a bit more buzz going for it.  But Aniston tends to hit, even in indieville.  $7mil.

O’HORTEN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
After Norwegian Hours

WILL IT SUCK?
From the writer/director of quirky Norwegian comedy Kitchen Stories.  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Since the director’s American debut Factotum didn’t make him an art-household name, probably not much better than Kitchen Stories.  $500,000.

BIG MAN JAPAN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Trials and tribulations of a giant man who fights giant (and generally fucked-up-looking) monsters.

WILL IT SUCK?
As a guy who grew up on Japanese monster movies, I’m predisposed to like this film.  So I’m happy to report that the early buzz is very, very good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is one of those situations where my tastes don’t represent the majority.  $250,000.

Next Week: God help those machines if they stand in front of Christian Bale’s light.