“San Andreas” rocks the box office, “Tomorrowland” #2, Pitch” #3, “Aloha” brings up the rear

boxoffice

Not the best weekend of the summer for movies, in terms of quality. If you believe the critics. Which we do, we do!

“San Andreas,” the best reviewed of a weak lot, is opening big. Dwayne Johnson and great effects are carrying that to an earth-quaking $47 million opening, or thereabouts, based on Friday’s big numbers.

“Tomorrowland” has fallen way off, despite clinging to the second spot at the box office, and may fall short of $100 million, U.S. Perhaps Disney should have inserted more Chinese content to make up for that.

“Pitch Perfect 2” has defied my expectations by maintaining a lead over “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which should have had stronger legs. Both are well over $100 million, U.S.

There was bad buzz around “Aloha,” those leaked Sony memos suggesting the studio was dismayed by what Cameron Crowe had turned out. Still, studios have been wrong so we Crowe fans held out hope.

Those hopes were dashed when the movie finally previewed. Uh. Terrible reviews, across the board. It’ll manage $10 million this weekend. Bradley Cooper’s “American Sniper” turn will tide him over. But Emma Stone’s reliance on the popular “Work with ‘name’ directors” career strategy will be severely tested, as this and her next Woody Allen picture, “The Irrational Man,” play this summer. Will she be bankable at all by August?

A couple of over-praised mediocrities, “Results”, an unfunny/unromantic comedy set amongst personal trainers in Texas, and “Heaven Only Knows,” a vivid but not the least bit compelling (plotless, almost) portrait of New York junkies and their day to day lives, are also in limited release.

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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