The prognosis is excellent for Disney’s “Doctor Strange,” after the Marvel Cinematic Universe film took in a healthy $9.4 million in Thursday previews.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays the title physician in the film, Marvel’s first since May’s “Captain America: Civil War,” which went on to a $179 million opening weekend and $1.1 billion worldwide.
“Doctor Strange” isn’t expected to reach those heights — after all, its titular character isn’t as well known as Captain America — but it could open to as much as $73 million, although Disney is forecasting a more conservative $65 million debut. The movie, which will open on 3,882 screens, has already made $133 million overseas. And critics love it, giving “Doctor Strange” a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Cumberbatch’s Dr. Stephen Strange is a gifted — and aware of it — neurosurgeon who crashes his sports car and loses the use of his hands. Desperate to have his defining identity back, he eventually ends up in Nepal, where he trains under a sorcerer and experiences a mystical world with multiple dimensions.
“Sinister” director Scott Derrickson helmed “Doctor Strange,” which also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, Amy Landecker and Scott Adkins.
The movie’s expected strong performance should only add to Disney’s banner 2016, as the studio has already set a record for worldwide box office receipts in a single year.
Fox’s “Trolls” — the last DreamWorks film from the now-NBCUniversal-owned studio’s former output deal — held down second place at the Thursday night box office, reeling in $900,000 in previews.
The movie, based on the colorfully-coiffed toys and starring a voice cast including Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Anna Kendrick and Zooey Deschanel, is expected to open to $47 million, although Fox is prognosticating something in the high-$30 million range across 4,060 screens.
The animated flick follows an overly happy Troll named Poppy (Kendrick), who teams up with curmudgeonly Branch (Timberlake) to save her friends. “Trolls” should be a hit with family audiences — and won over critics as well, with a 76 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Mel Gibson’s directorial comeback “Hacksaw Ridge” placed third at the Thursday box office, making $750,000 across more than 2,200 North American screens.
The Cross Creek/Lionsgate World War II drama starring Andrew Garfield as a conscientious objector is getting some awards buzz and has a sterling 87 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Going opposite “Doctor Strange” and “Trolls” will keep it in third place, although the film is projected to make a solid $16 million during its opening weekend. It expands to 2,886 theaters Friday.
'Doctor Strange' vs 'Trolls' and 6 More Big Box Office Showdowns in Fall 2016 (Photos)
It's always a grudge match at the box office. But the opening-weekend competition among certain titles this fall is sizing up to be downright cutthroat. Here are seven of the biggest showdowns by year's end.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Sept. 16 Two sequels and a biopic. Based off past installment performances, Lionsgate's "Blair Witch" should easily beat Universal's "Bridget Jones's Baby." Throw in Open Road's "Snowden," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and directed by Oliver Stone, and "Witch" might get some stiffer competition.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Sept. 23 "The Magnificent Seven" and "Storks" are catered to audiences that are nearly diametrically opposed: adults and teens vs. families with young'uns. But when it comes to box office grosses, MGM-Columbia's Western reboot starring Chris Pratt, Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke and more is steeped in heated competition with Warner Bros.' animated comedy featuring the voices of Andy Samberg, Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Sept. 30 Summit Entertainment's historical drama "Deepwater Horizon," starring Mark Wahlberg, will go up against Tim Burton's fantasy-book adaptation "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," from 20th Century Fox. Both appeal to wide audiences -- albeit relatively separate demographics.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Oct. 21 Since all three of these wide releases are sequels, we can pick a winner based on their respective debut grosses on past opening performance, the winner is (drum roll): "Boo!: A Madea Halloween." But don't count out "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" with Tom Cruise.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Nov. 4 The lowest-grossing openings for Disney-Marvel movies have so far been between $56 million and $58 million. Assuming "Doctor Strange," starring Benedict Cumberbatch, exceeds both "Big Hero 6" and "Ant-Man," DreamWorks Animation's "Trolls" may face an uphill battle for box office supremacy. Still, it looks like it's sizing up to be a tight race.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Nov. 23 Directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, historical drama "Allied" could be the adult pick during a weekend with a kid-geared flick, Disney's animated "Moana." Also "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will be playing in its second weekend and could blow both openers out of contention for first place.
various, TheWrap
Opening Weekend: Dec. 21 There's something for everyone this weekend: "Assassin's Creed," a video-game-based fantasy film; space romance "Passengers," featuring superstars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, and the animated comedy "Sing." All three should perform, but second-weekend holdover "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" could cast a big shadow over all three.
various, TheWrap
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Fall Movie Preview 2016: TheWrap looks ahead to some of the most competitive opening weekends through the end of the year
It's always a grudge match at the box office. But the opening-weekend competition among certain titles this fall is sizing up to be downright cutthroat. Here are seven of the biggest showdowns by year's end.