Box Office Forecast: One ‘Riddick’ to Rule Them All

Vin Diesel in Riddick

As we say buh-bye to summer, the folks over at Box Office Mojo are predicting box office tallies for the first weekend of fall. There’s just one new nationwide release – the sci-fi-alien action sequel “Riddick,” which opens in 3,107 theaters – and it should easily take first place.

“Riddick” is the third time Vin Diesel will play the title character, but it’s been nearly a decade. The first appearance was in 2000’s “Pitch Black,” which earned 39.5 million and launched it to cult classic status. Four years later, Diesel returned to the role in “The Chronicles of Riddick.”

I must admit, I haven’t seen even ONE of the Riddick films – I’m so out of the loop! – but I’ll go check out the new one today and report back. There was also a well-received Riddick video game, “Escape from Butcher Bay.”

Diesel’s last three “Fast & Furious” movies have earned a combined $600 million at the domestic box office and more than $1.17 billion overseas. This new “Riddick” is being sold nearly entirely on Diesel, a crowd favorite among males and Hispanics – and I’ll just go out on a limb here and throw in females!

Universal is forecasting $18 to $20 million for the movie’s weekend, but with zero competition and a huge marketing campaign, it could come close to matching “The Chronicles of Riddick’s” $24.3 million debut.

Weekend Forecast, Sept. 6 – 8, 2013:

  1. Riddick – $21.4 million
  2. The Butler – $10.1 million (-32%)
  3. Instructions Not Included – $9.7 million (+24%)
  4. We’re the Millers – $8.4 million (-34%)
  5. Planes – $4.7 million (-39%)
  6. One Direction – $4 million (-75%)

Check out the trailer and see what you think. I do love a good alien action flick, and this looks like a winner (plus I admit to having a bit of a crush on Vin Diesel)! Here’s the movie’s official site.


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