Sony Pictures’ “Superfly” earned $1.2 million at the Wednesday previews, looking at a $10-$12 million opening weekend.
The remake of the famed ’70s blaxploitation drama “Superfly” holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 67 percent. Its reported budget was $16 million.
“Superfly” stars Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest, a career criminal who wants out of the Atlanta drug business, only to get dragged into even deeper trouble after one bad deal. Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis and Jennifer Morrison also star, with Director X helming the film. “Watchmen” co-writer Alex Tse penned the script, with Joel Silver producing with Atlanta rapper Future.
“Superfly” will face off against Pixar’s “The Incredibles 2” and Warner Bros./New Line Cinema’s “Tag” this weekend. “Incredibles 2” could potentially post the best opening weekend for an animated film in movie history. Pixar currently holds that record with “Finding Dory,” which made $135 million two years ago. Trackers are split over whether “Incredibles 2” will beat that, with some having it come just short at $125-130 million while others expect the new record to be set at $145 million.
The first “Incredibles” movie opened to $70 million in 2004, and “Incredibles 2” will still have a higher opening than its predecessor even after inflation adjustments are made. Brad Bird returns to write and direct, as well as provide the voice for fan favorite Edna Mode. Craig T. Nelson, Helen Hunt and Samuel L. Jackson also return to the cast, being joined by “Better Call Saul” stars Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks. Critics have nearly unanimously praised the film, giving it a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 97 percent.
“Tag” is based on the true story of a lifelong group of friends who played a game of tag for 23 years. It is expected to earn $13-$15 million this weekend against a budget in the upper $20 million range.
The film stars Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Hannibal Buress and Jake Johnson as the crew of friends, with the cast completed by Rashida Jones, Isla Fisher, Annabelle Wallis, Leslie Bibb, Brian Dennehy and Lil Rel Howrey. Jeff Tomsic directed from a script by Rob McKittrick and Mark Steilen.