Just in Time for Number Nine
September 9, 2009
It's September 9th, 2009. Or the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009, which makes it the perfect day to release 9 in theaters. At least that's what the studio hopes. The reality could be a lot different.
First of all, opening a film in the middle of the week only makes sense when it is a blockbuster release or there's a holiday on the Friday. Otherwise most moviegoers won't be paying attention and will assume it doesn't open till Friday. This is doubly so with a kids movie, as its target audience won't go to a movie on a school night. Sadly, while 9 is rated PG-13 and will be too intense for most kids, it will likely be seen by the average moviegoer as just a kids movie. Its reviews are good, and likely among the best we will see all month, but I still see it struggling over the next two days.
Look for between $1 to $2 million tonight, closer to $1 million tomorrow, and $9 million over the weekend. It should start out in first place tonight, but it is very unlikely that it will remain that way over the weekend.
As for the film that will most likely come out on top, we will get to that, and the rest of the top five and new releases, tomorrow during the regular box office prediction column.
Filed under: 9