'Tomb Raider' Runs to $2.1 Million at Thursday Box Office

Warner Bros. and MGM’s “Tomb Raider” grossed $2.1 million at the Thursday box office.

Inspired by Square-Enix’s 2013 reboot of the long-running video game series, the action film is looking at a start of $27-29 million from 3,854 screens, with WB projecting a start of $23-25 million against a reported budget of $90 million.

Valuable comps are “The Mummy,” which scored $2.7 million in previews before it grossed $31.8 million its opening weekend, and “Red Sparrow,” which earned $1.2 million in previews and $16.8 million over the weekend.

Also Read: Does 'Tomb Raider' Have a Post-Credits Scene?

“Tomb Raider” is expected to fight “Black Panther” for the No. 1 spot, after the latter has held first place at the box office for four consecutive weekends. With $1.09 billion grossed worldwide so far, “Black Panther” is expected to have a fifth weekend total in the high $20 million range.

Directed by Roar Uthaug, “Tomb Raider” features Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft as she goes off on her first adventure in search of her missing father (Dominic West). Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, and Kristin Scott Thomas also star. It holds a score of 50 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fox’s “Love, Simon” grossed $850,000 in previews on Thursday and is expected to open in the $10-$12 million range. In comparison, “Everything, Everything” grossed $525,000 in Thursday previews last year, and went on to earn $11.7 million its opening weekend.

Also Read: 'Tomb Raider' Film Review: Alicia Vikander Gamely Attempts to Resuscitate Dead Franchise

Based on the book “Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli, “Love, Simon” stars Nick Robinson as Simon Spier, a closeted gay teen who forms a relationship with an anonymous gay classmate online. His life is thrown into disarray when a blackmailer finds his online chats and threatens to out him to his family and school. Greg Berlanti directs the film, with Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner, Jorge Lendeborg, Jr., Katherine Langford and Alexandra Shipp also starring. The film currently holds a score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions’ faith-based film, “I Can Only Imagine,” is also opening this weekend, and it grossed $1.3 million in previews. Based on the story behind the hit song of the same name by Christian rock band MercyMe, it stars J. Michael Finley as MercyMe vocalist Bart Millard and Dennis Quaid as his father, Arthur. The film is expected to open outside the top ten with a $2-4 million opening from 1,620 screens, with a reported budget of $7 million.

The Evolution of Lara Croft and 'Tomb Raider': From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander (Photos)

Alicia Vikander, fresh off her Oscar win for "The Danish Girl," has now been cast to play Lara Croft, one of the most famous and intensely debated icons in video game history.
Lara Croft was introduced to the world with the release of Eidos' 1996 video game, "Tomb Raider."
Eidos
The franchise quickly became known for its strong blend of action-adventure and platformer gameplay, as Croft navigated puzzles and obstacles to find supernatural treasures.
Eidos
Lara Croft soon gained praise among video game critics for being a tough, resourceful female protagonist in a male-dominated medium, achieving icon status alongside the likes of Mario and Link.
Eidos
However, some critics claimed that Croft was a blank slate for gamers to project their ideals onto and lacked defining characteristics of their own. Her design has also been attacked as one of the defining examples of female oversexualization in video games.
Eidos
The criticism has been shared by those involved with the franchise. Toby Gard, the developer who created Lara Croft, did not like how the character's sex appeal was being used as a marketing strategy. Gard left the franchise after making the first game and would not return for nine years.
Eidos
Angelina Jolie was also not pleased with the revealing outfits she was asked to wear when playing Croft in the 2001 "Tomb Raider" movie. Jolie claimed that Croft's image was a bad example for young girls and asked for a redesign.
Paramount
By the time Jolie returned to do a second "Tomb Raider" film, she was given outfits that, while form-fitting, were appropriate for the cave exploration that Croft was known for.
Paramount
In 2006, Toby Gard returned to the franchise to create a rebooted "Tomb Raider" trilogy with Eidos Studios. Gard co-wrote the story for the games, giving Croft a deeper backstory and a more defined personality.
Eidos
In 2013, Square-Enix took over the "Tomb Raider" series and rebooted it again, taking Croft back to her first adventure just after college to show how she became an explorer and treasure hunter.
Square-Enix
The new Croft replaced sexuality with hardship, as she found herself shipwrecked and forced to survive without food or supplies while being hunted by a murderous cult. The 2013 game also shows Croft coming to terms with killing others to stay alive.
Square-Enix
Now Alicia Vikander, who gained praise among critics and feminists alike for her thought-provoking performance in "Ex Machina," is set to put her spin on Lara Croft.
A24
Vikander's Croft will reportedly be based on the recent Square-Enix games and will aim to make Croft feel "like a real human being."
Getty Images
Twitter went into a state of reverie Monday when photos of Alicia Vikander as Lara Craft leaked on social media.

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“The Danish Girl” star tkes over a franchise that has long been at the heart of the debate about women in video games

Alicia Vikander, fresh off her Oscar win for "The Danish Girl," has now been cast to play Lara Croft, one of the most famous and intensely debated icons in video game history.

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The Evolution of Lara Croft and 'Tomb Raider': From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander (Photos)

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