Box Office: “Expendables” expended, “Giver” taketh little

boxA PG-13 rated “Expendables” sequel featuring a high body count and a fun turn by Puss-N-Boots Banderas is limping into the $16 million range, the worst opening weekend by far for this aged action hero franchise. They’re done, unless there’s some epic overseas opening that justifies their return. Don’t see it.

And “The Giver,” whatever its merits, cannot overcome all the other film versions of this YA sci-fi plotline that came before it, managing only $12-13 million, according to Deadline.com estimates based on Friday.

“Let’s Be Cops” gained awful reviews, once Fox let critics see it. Hiding it didn’t hurt, though, as it looks to be reaching a $14 million+ weekend, almost $24 since it opened Wed. From the looks of it and gauging the price tags of the cast, they’re already in profit.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is falling off steeply, but not so steeply it can’t hold on to the top spot, low to mid $20s. “Guardians” is right behind it, low $20s.

“Boyhood” expanded, maybe its last big bump in screens, and still will have only reached $13-14 by weekend’s end. Woody Allen’s critically panned “Magic in the Moonlight” also opened wider. Why?

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” will clear $200 million by late Sat.

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About Roger Moore

Movie Critic, formerly with McClatchy-Tribune News Service, Orlando Sentinel, published in Spin Magazine, The World and now published here, Orlando Magazine, Autoweek Magazine
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