Reel Box Office Predictions: Sep 29-Oct 1

A record September is coming to a close this weekend and while it may not end with a huge bang, it will add some coin to the most memorable September box office we’ve had in quite some time.

Our first new release is American Made which stars Tom Cruise as a commercial airline pilot who’s recruited by the CIA to fly reconnaissance missions over South America. He then becomes involved with a cartel and begins smuggling drugs and guns. The film reunites him with director Doug Liman after they got Edge of Tomorrow to over $370 million worldwide.

There are things working for and against American Made. In its favor is that Cruise is still big overseas. The film has already earned more than $60 million overseas and it’s also getting Cruise strong reviews, not only for the film, but also for his performance. As of this writing the film is at a fresh 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Working against the film is that Cruise remains a wildcard at the domestic box office as of late and he’s not the guaranteed draw he once was. I’m not sure how high the awareness is for this film but maybe positive word of mouth can make it shine. I’m predicting a second place finish, although it will be very close, in the $18-19 million range.

Our other new release is a bit under the radar. Flatliners, billed as a sequel to the 1990 movie of the same name, hasn’t been screened for critics as of this writing and that’s never a good sign. Also calling it a sequel is a bit of a cop out because everyone out there knows this was sold as a remake.

Like the original, it’s centered around a group of medical students who conduct experiments to produce near-death experiences. This time around the film stars Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nina Dobrev, James Norton and Kiersey Clemons. If It wasn’t around taking up the horror/thriller market, I would say this film had a chance of breaking out a little bit but I think the competition is too heavy for it to standout. I’m predicting about $8-10 million for the weekend.

That means, unless American Made truly overperforms, Kingsman: The Golden Circle should hold onto the top spot with about $20 million.

Check back on Monday for the full box office results!


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About Gaius Bolling 3795 Articles
At the age of five, I knew I wanted to write movies and about them. I've set out to make those dreams come true. As an alumni of the Los Angeles Film Academy, I participated in their Screenwriting program, while building up my expertise in film criticism. I write reviews that relate to the average moviegoer by educating my readers and keeping it fun. My job is to let you know the good, the bad, and the ugly in the world of cinema, so you can have your best moviegoing experience. You can find more of my writing on Instagram @g_reelz.