A hero’s welcome at Box Office for ‘Beowulf’
Carl DiOrio

LOS ANGELES—The weekend’s box office crown should be copped by an animated feature based on an Old English epic poem. That would be director Robert Zemeckis’ passion project “Beowulf,” which is on track to open with as much as $30 million. Other new entrants during the busy pre-Thanksgiving frame include Fox’s family fantasy “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” with Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman, and New Line’s literary adaptation “Love in the Time of Cholera.”
The Nicole Kidman vehicle “Margot at the Wedding” and director Brian De Palma’s Iraq-themed “Redacted” open in limited release. Prerelease tracking for “Beowulf” shows good strength in all demographics except for older women, and younger males have displayed truly avid anticipation. “It has the look and feel of a movie that will perform stronger internationally than domestically,” said David Davis, managing partner and entertainment adviser at Arpeggio Partners in Los Angeles. “It’s kind of an action-adventure with a cast that should play well overseas.”
Brit Ray Winstone performs in the title role of the motion-capture production, with John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie co-starring. “Beowulf’s” budget is estimated at $150 million. Producer/political activist Steve Bing’s Shangri-La Entertainment provided about two-thirds of the funding. Paramount is distributing “Beowulf” domestically, and Warner Bros. will distribute internationally.
“Emporium” looks likely to open in the teen millions, so third-week titles “Bee Movie” and “American Gangster” could outmuscle the rookie for the silver and bronze medals. “Bee Movie” led last weekend with $25 million. “Cholera” is unlikely to make it out of the single-digit millions. Meanwhile, industrites also will be watching for signs that the market can finally shrug off the theatrical malaise that has hampered grosses in recent weeks.
In seven of the past eight weekends, sales underperformed the same frame a year earlier. Fall grosses are running 5% behind those from a year ago, though the industry still is tracking 6% ahead on a year-to-date basis.