“300: Rise of an Empire” didn’t get the grand reviews of the 2006 film that made Gerard Butler a star. And it doesn’t have Gerard. Or many Spartans. It’s about flabbier Greek farmers and merchants and thinkers and politicians, turned into sailors. But it’s still doing gangbuster business, based on the brand. Over $40, maybe it’ll reach $45, based on Friday’s numbers.

That’s better than projections.

A quality children’s 3D cartoon that earned good reviews and opens at the end of “The Lego Movie” run? “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” is only on track to make $32 million or so, according to Deadline.com. That’s on the low end of expectations, but here’s the wrinkle in that number. Deadline.com historically under-estimates kids’ films’ Saturday take. So we will see what we see at end of business today. Ciuld spike up to closer to $40.

The only Oscar film to get any sort of bounce out of the Academy Awards Sunday night was “12 Years a Slave,” a deserving Best Picture winner. It’s almost back in the top ten. So, not THAT much of an Oscar bounce.

“Son of God” is closing in on $50, “Non-Stop” is on the brink of $60, “Lego” looks like it will end its run in the $230-240 range.