Box Office Forecaster - 08/12/11

After a two week vacation we're back with this weekend's box office predictions and what you should see and avoid this weekend.

#5 - The Smurfs

Weekend Prediction - $12 million

Gross to Date - $75.9 million (Week 3)

#4 - 30 Minutes or Less

Weekend Prediction - $18 million

Gross to Date - (Week 1)

#3 - Final Destination 5

Weekend Prediction - $31 million

Gross to Date - (Week 1)

#2 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Weekend Prediction - $34 million

Gross to Date - $54.8 million (Week 2)

#1 - The Help

Weekend Prediction - $53 million

Gross to Date - (Week 1)

Avoid like the Plague

I'll admit that I've only watched this show once and thought it was stupid. I don't even remember too many things about the actual episode except for one scene. There was two guys who looked like they were about to fight and instead of fighting they said "let's have a sing-off!" Now, I'm not one to say kids or really anyone should fight to solve their differences but it's safe to say that if someone says to you "let's have a sing off to solve our differences" then I think you have the right to kick that person's ass.

Anyway, yes the show is popular and has a great message but this thing reeks of a giant cash grab. Does this thing really have to be in 3D and I've never been a fan of the concert movie. The other thing that annoys me about this movie are the ads with that dastardly Sue Sylvester saying that you shouldn't go see this movie. First, you kids should listen to actress Jane Lynch since she's been in over 40 movies and knows what she's talking about. Second, you know there's a scene in the movie where the kids prove to Sue that they belong on the stage and can sing dammit.

Please for the love of god go see something else, anything. The last thing we need is this movie to be a hit and to have more Glee movies come out.

Best Bet

I was going to go with "The Help" but since every female in North America will be seeing it this weekend it doesn't need to be promoted anymore. I'm going to recommend last weekend's number one movie, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes".

I had a chance to see this movie earlier in the week and thought it was great. I'm not normally a fan of prequels but I felt that this one did a great job of setting up the events of the original 1968 version. If you're a fan of the Heston version you'll love all the nods to the original. Plus Andy Serkis really deserves a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award Nomination for his work as Caesar the chimp. The special effects look great and there's quite a few times where you have to remind yourself that the face and movements from the animals are actually being done by actors.

Let me know what you thought of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" below.