Sony’s video-game adaptation comedy Pixels opens across America this weekend and early indications suggest the film could debut to around $30 million, though those estimates may fall in light of the tragic events in Louisiana on Thursday.
Three people were killed and nine others injured at a shooting during a screening of Trainwreck on Thursday night, and the incident may well affect attendances at cinemas this weekend with lower than expected box office totals. However, Pixels could take top spot come Sunday night depending on how Marvel’s Ant-Man and Universal’s Minions hold across their second and third weekends respectively.
The action comedy, directed by Chris Columbus, cost around $90 million and although reviews have been poor thus far, it may have enough to make its money back through its domestic run. Josh Gad, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage and Kevin James co-star.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Pixels here
Paper Towns, the latest John Green YA adaptation starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne, also opens this weekend in 3,031 cinemas and is on track to gross between $18-$24 million, which is very good considering the film only cost $12 million to make.
The third big release this weekend, Antoine Fuqua’s boxing drama Southpaw, is also set to open healthy with estimates putting the film around the $15 million mark from 2,750 cinemas. Southpaw stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker and Rachel McAdams.
Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer and directed by Judd Apatow, is expected to continue its excellent opening with another $15-$16 million weekend after its $30 million bow last time around.
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