Can Matthew McConaughey's 'The Dark Tower' dethrone 'Dunkirk'?

'Detroit', 'Kidnap' also open in theaters this weekend

SAN ANTONIO – Sony Pictures' long-awaited Stephen King adaptation “The Dark Tower,” will try to replace “Dunkirk” at the top of the box-office charts this weekend as the summer movie season winds to a close.

The new movie starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba is expected to make roughly $20 million to $25 million in domestic sales according to studio estimates.

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Christopher Nolan's World War II epic "Dunkirk", which has been in first place at the box office the last two weekends, should take in roughly $15 million, good to compete for second place.

"The Dark Tower" is based on an eight-part Stephen King fantasy series and has Elba playing the last Gunslinger, who is in a constant battle with Walter O'Dim, also known as the Man in Black.

RELATED: From 'Mr. Mercedes' to 'Dark Tower,' Stephen King Is Having a Moment

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Stephen King’s books have been created into many movies over the years, some to great acclaim including "Carrie" and “The Shining". This latest film however is only opening to a 19-percent favorable score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Both producer J.J. Abrams and director Ron Howard at one point were tied to the project but they each chose to pass. "The Dark Tower" cost $60 million to create and is said to utilize tons of special effects.

Also entering theaters this weekend are the very favorable "Detroit", which has an 89-percent favorable score on Rotten Tomatoes and the thriller "Kidnap" starring Halle Berry.

“Detroit,” is the latest movie from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, who also directed "Zero Dark Thirty" and “The Hurt Locker”. The movie is about civil unrest in 1967 and is likely to make $10 million to $15 million.

In "Kidnap" Halle Berry plays a mother on a mission to save her abducted son. The movie is projected to only make $8 million in ticket sales. The movie has a 40% “fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Here's a look at all the latest films (with their trailer) that were released for the weekend of August 4.

And don't forget to look for the latest article each week to see what else will be playing at the movies.

The Dark Tower

Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), the last Gunslinger, is locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim (Matthew McConaughey), also known as the Man in Black. The Gunslinger must prevent the Man in Black from toppling the Dark Tower, the key that holds the universe together. With the fate of worlds at stake, two men collide in the ultimate battle between good and evil. (Google synopsis)

The movie is 1 hour and 35 minutes is rated PG-13. 

You can view the trailer below or by clicking here.

Detroit

In the summer of 1967, rioting and civil unrest starts to tear apart the city of Detroit. Two days later, a report of gunshots prompts the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Army National Guard to search and seize an annex of the nearby Algiers Motel. Several policemen start to flout procedure by forcefully and viciously interrogating guests to get a confession. By the end of the night, three unarmed men are gunned down while several others are brutally beaten. (Google synopsis)

This film is 2 hour and 23 minutes and is rated R.

You can view the trailer by clicking here.

Kidnap

A typical afternoon in the park turns into a nightmare for single mother Karla Dyson when kidnappers snatch her young son Frankie. With no cellphone and no time to wait for police, Dyson jumps into her car to follow the vehicle that holds Frankie. As the pursuit turns into a frantic, high-speed chase, Karla must risk everything and push herself to the limit to save her beloved child. (Google synopsis)

The film is 1 hour and 35 minutes and is rated R.

You can view the trailer below or by clicking here.

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About the Author:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.