'Blair Witch' Conjures $765,000 on Thursday, 'Bridget Jones's Baby' Bump Is $364,000

Lionsgate’s “Blair Witch” scared up $765,000 in its Thursday previews, while Universal’s “Bridget Jones’s Baby,” starring Renee Zellweger, opened to $364,000.

Produced for $15 million, “Blair Witch,” a sequel to 1999’s “The Blair Witch Project,” is expected to earn around $23 million this weekend. However, Lionsgate is estimating a return of anywhere between $15 million and $18 million.

The $765,000 figure for the found-footage film’s Thursday previews is decent, given that the latest “Paranormal Activity” movie made $600,000 in its initial screenings last year. But this summer’s horror hits like “Conjuring 2” and “Don’t Breathe” performed better at the Thursday previews — James Wan‘s sequel to “The Conjuring” earned $3.4 million in its early screenings, while “Don’t Breathe” grossed $1.88 million.

Also Read: How 1999's 'The Blair Witch Project' Foretold Hollywood's Shift to Viral Marketing

The first “Blair Witch” movie was directed by Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick and became a box office sensation when it grossed almost $250 million worldwide on a production budget of only $60,000.

A sequel was released in 2000 titled “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.” This movie, directed by Joe Berlinger, was less of a success, grossing $48 million globally, based on a production budget of $15 million.

“Bridget Jones’s Baby,” directed by Sharon Maguire and produced for $35 million, is expected to earn $14 million over the weekend. The movie stars Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey and Emma Thompson and is a follow-up to 2001’s “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and its 2004 sequel “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.”

Also Read: Will 'Blair Witch' Beat 'Bridget Jones's Baby' in Box Office Battle of Long-Delayed Sequels?

This time around, Bridget (Zellweger) finds herself pregnant but isn’t sure who her baby’s father is. The “Bridget Jones” films have grossed $554 million worldwide collectively.

Currently, “Bridget Jones’s Baby” holds a score of 76 percent “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. It is a production of Universal, Miramax, StudioCanal and Working Title.

This is also the first weekend for Open Road’s “Snowden,” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the NSA whistleblower and directed by Oliver Stone. The film was produced for $40 million and projections say it will open around $10 million.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why 'Snowden' Might Not Hack It at the Box Office

Pure Flix’s documentary “Hillsong: Let Hope Rise” is looking to earn an estimated $3 million when it debuts in 815 locations this weekend.

The big question this weekend will be whether “Blair Witch” can dethrone “Sully” from its top spot. Tom Hanks‘ biopic about the Hudson River airplane landing grossed $35.5 million last weekend.

The Evolution of Renee Zellweger, From 'Jerry Maguire' to 'Judy' (Photos)

TheWrap takes a look at the evolution of the lovable southern star from movies like "Dazed and Confused" to "My One and Only."
Renee Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969 in Texas. Her first job out of college was working in a beef commercial.
1991:
Zellweger appeared as the uncredited "Girl in the blue pickup truck" in "Dazed and Confused," alongside fellow Texan Matthew McConaughey.
Gramercy Pictures
1994:
Zellweger had her first major film role in the horror film, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation" alongside Matthew McConaughey again.
Columbia
1994:
Her next film was "Love and a .45," in which she played a woman who plans a robbery with her boyfriend. The part earned Zellweger an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance.
Lionsgate
1996:
Zellweger became known to global audiences due to her performance in "Jerry Maguire," in which she played Tom Cruise's love interest.
TriStar
1998:
Zellweger starred in "One True Thing" opposite Meryl Streep and William Hurt. Once again, the actress was acclaimed for her part.
Universal
Parts in "The Bachelor" (1999), "Me, Myself and Irene" (2000) and "Nurse Betty" (2000) followed.
Fox
2001:
"Bridget Jones's Diary" is released -- and then everything really changed. The film starred Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, based on the 1996 novel by Helen Fielding. Her role won her an Oscar for Best Actress, as well as a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe nomination.
Miramax
2002:
A year after "Bridget Jones's Diary," Zellweger starred as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere. She earned her second Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe for her performance.
Miramax
2004:
Zellweger earns yet another Oscar for her role in "Cold Mountain," as well as a Golden Globe. The Civil War epic costarred Nicole Kidman and Jude Law.
Miramax
2004:
Zellweger lends her voice to the animated movie "Shark Tale," which became a box office success, making $367 million worldwide against a comparably modest budget.
DreamWorks
2004:
She then reprised her role as Bridget Jones in "Bridges Jones: The Edge of Reason," for which she received her fourth Golden Globe nomination.
Universal
2005:
Zellweger married country music singer Kenny Chesney in May of 2005, but she sought for annulment four months later, citing "fraud."
Getty Images
2005:
Zellweger received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Getty Images
After her appearance in "Miss Potter" and "Bee Movie," her career somewhat slowed down. She starred in George Clooney's 2008 directorial film "Leatherheads," which was considered a box office disappointment.
MGM
2014:
Zellweger appeared at the 21st annual Elle Magazine Women in Hollywood Awards and was scrutinized for looking unrecognizable and being accused of having gotten drastic plastic surgery.
Getty Images
After her role in 2010's "My One and Only," she had a six-year-hiatus before starring in "The Whole Truth."
Freestyle Releasing
2016: "Bridget Jones's Baby," a sequel to the 2004 film, was released.
Universal
2018: Zellweger starred in "Here and Now" alongside Sarah Jessica Parker.
Paramount
2019: The actress had a recurring role in "What/If," Netflix's TV series as Anne Montgomery. Jane Levy, Blake Jenner and Keith Powers also star.
Netflix
2019: Zellweger starred as Judy Garland in "Judy," directed by Rupert Goold.
Roadside