Box-office magic likely
Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ is predicted to debut to as much as $65 million this weekend.
Disney’s live-action version of “Cinderella” is likely to enchant audiences this weekend.
The film, based on the classic animated fairy tale, could debut to as much as $65 million, according to people familiar with pre-release audience surveys.
That puts it on top of the box-office charts and ahead of fellow newcomer “Run All Night,” which is expected to pull in roughly $15 million.
Despite the weak start to March, robust ticket sales in January and February (including the juggernauts “American Sniper” and “Fifty Shades of Grey”) have kept the overall year-to-date box office up about 5% over last year.
The year has been dominated by mostly R-rated films, but “Cinderella” is likely to bring back families and younger audiences to theaters.
The film directed by Kenneth Branagh cost about $95 million to produce. It tells the story of Ella (Lily James), who is treated like a servant by her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) after her father’s death. Her luck changes with the help of a beggar woman (Helena Bonham Carter), who helps her get to a ball at the royal palace.
A short film, featuring princesses Anna and Elsa from the blockbuster “Frozen,” will precede the Disney movie. Some analysts said the animated short could boost the box-office haul for “Cinderella” by as much as 10% over its kickoff weekend.
Many schools and colleges will also be out for spring break, which is expected to give “Cinderella” an additional push, according to research firm Rentrak.
Movietickets.com, a global online ticketing service, reported that “Cinderella” is the No. 1 movie on the website, with the film representing 63% of advance tickets sold since Wednesday.
It is averaging more than 40% of the usual number of tickets per transaction on ticketing website Fandango. Of the ticket buyers that Fandango surveyed, an estimated 83% said they plan on bringing the entire family to see the film.
“Cinderella” will also dance overseas, where Disney will release the film in about 30 markets.
Disney had enormous success when it released “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie, in May 2014. The live-action film, a spinoff from another animated classic, “Sleeping Beauty,” debuted to $70 million and went on to make $241.4 million in the U.S. and Canada.
Meanwhile, Liam Neeson’s “Run All Night,” which cost about $50 million to make, is expected to draw in male audiences.
The action film, being released by Warner Bros., follows a hit man (Neeson) fighting to save his son. It costars Joel Kinnaman and Ed Harris.
Neeson resonates at the box office, in large part because of his appeal as a vigilante. His latest action film “Taken 3” debuted to roughly $40 million and went on to make $88.3 million domestically.
However, Neeson’s “A Walk Among the Tombstones,” which came out in September, fell short of Universal Pictures’ forecast with a $13.1-million debut.
Last weekend’s No. 1 film, “Chappie,” probably will drop about 40% to 50% in ticket sales. “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is expected to stay steady with last week and add about $7 million.