‘Jack Reacher,’ ‘Ouija,’ ‘Madea’ Sequels Within Fighting Distance of Box Office Supremacy

Tom Cruise action movie, horror prequel and Tyler Perry comedy are all swinging for roughly $20 million

jack reacher made halloween tom cruise ouija box office battle

Tom Cruise‘s action sequel “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” is positioned to top the box office this weekend. That is if “Ouija: Origin of Evil” or “Tyler Perry‘s Boo! A Madea Halloween” don’t swoop in from behind to scare it into second or even third place.

Paramount and Skydance’s followup to 2012’s “Jack Reacher” is expected to open to roughly $23 million, with the studio’s estimates set more conservatively in the high teens.

Meanwhile Universal’s sequel to the 2014 money maker “Ouija” is expected to come out of the gates with up to $19 million. And though the studio expects opening grosses closer to the mid teens, scary movies, such as “Don’t Breathe,” have been over performing in the past few months. So don’t count this one out.

Of course, Tyler Perry‘s season-appropriate Madea sequel could also very well unseat “Jack Reacher,” as the high end of estimates are set at $20 million. Though Lionsgate is projecting mid-teens for its debut.

Twentieth Century Fox comedy “Keeping Up With the Joneses” will likely just make it into the top five, given the flood of new competition and also holdover “The Accountant.” Starring Gal Gadot, Isla Fisher, Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm and Patton Oswalt, the film is expected to earn roughly $8 million on its debut.

Directed by Greg Mottola (“Superbad,” “Adventureland”), the comedy involves a suburban couple who become embroiled in an international espionage plot.

“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” revolves around the mysterious deaths of soldiers who were previously under Reacher’s command.

It’s set to open in approximately 3,600 locations and is tracking higher than the opening of the previous installment, which grossed $15 million on its debut and went on to earn $200 million worldwide.

The sequel, directed by Edward Zwick (“The Last Samurai”), was produced for $60 million, not counting marketing costs. It also stars Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge, Danika Yarosh, PatrickHeusinger, Holt McCallany and Robert Knepper.

“Boo! A Madea Halloween” will open in roughly 2,100 locations and was made for $20 million. Written, directed and starring Tyler Perry, who returns as Madea, the movie follows her during a haunted Halloween as she fights off killers, ghosts and zombies as she also keeps an eye on some misbehaving teens.

Meanwhile “Ouija: Origin of Evil” is set to debut in 3,167 theaters. Made on a modest budget, the studio hopes to replicate the success of the 2014 sleeper hit which earned a lifetime gross of more than $100 million worldwide.

Involving a seance scam in 1967 Los Angeles, the prequel was directed by Mike Flanagan (“Oculus”) and comes from from Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes and Hasbro, and boasts a roster of big name producers including Michael Bay and Jason Blum.

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