SAN ANTONIO – In what is traditionally a slow time of the year for movies, two new films will try to supplant the reigning box office king and in the process, find their own niche with moviegoers.
Last week the horror prequel "Annabelle: Creation" took first place delivering a $35 million opening, good for only a few million behind the original film "Annabelle" back in 2014.
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The challenger this week is Lionsgate's "The Hitman's Bodyguard" starring Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, the lone movie which appears to be a contender for the top spot.
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The 90's style buddy action-comedy directed by Patrick Hughes (“The Expendables 3”) and written by Tom O’Connor has received mixed reviews from critics, who have praised Reynolds and Jackson's chemistry but criticized the unoriginal plot.
The movie is about a special protection agent Michael Bryce (Reynolds) who is tasked with guarding the life of his mortal enemy Darius Kincaid (Jackson), who is one of the world's most notorious hitmen and is responsible for taking him from the United Kingdom to an International Court of Justice.
"The Hitman's Bodyguard" opens in 3,400 theaters and has an approval rating of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is projected to make $13 to 16 million in its opening week.
Also entering theaters this weekend are "Logan Lucky" which has an approval rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the drama "Patti Cake$", a movie about a plus-sized white girl Patricia "Dumbo" Dombrowski, who seeks fame and fortune as a rapper, a movie which has a limited release.
Steven Soderbergh's return to directing following a short "retirement" is the film "Logan Lucky", a heist comedy containing an ensemble cast including actors Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough, Daniel Craig, Seth MacFarlane, Katie Holmes and Hilary Swank.
The film's premise is about two siblings who try to reverse a family curse and set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The movie is likely to make just $10 million despite outstanding reviews according to estimates.
Here's a look at all the latest films (with their trailer) that were released for the weekend of August 18.
And don't forget to look for the latest article each week to see what else will be playing at the movies.
The Hitman's Bodyguard
The world's top protection agent is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world's most notorious hit men. The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their journey from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator who is out for blood. (Google synopsis)
The movie is 1 hour and 58 minutes is rated R.
You can view the trailer below or by clicking here..
Logan Lucky
West Virginia family man Jimmy Logan teams up with his one-armed brother Clyde and sister Mellie to steal money from the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Jimmy also recruits demolition expert Joe Bang to help them break into the track's underground system. Complications arise when a mix-up forces the crew to pull off the heist during a popular NASCAR race while also trying to dodge a relentless FBI agent. (Google synopsis)
This film is 1 hour and 59 minutes and is rated PG-13.
You can view the trailer below or by clicking here.
Patti Cake$
Fed up with life in her New Jersey hometown, Patricia Dombrowski, aka Patti Cake$, hopes to follow in the footsteps of her idol and hit the road to achieve stardom as a rapper. With help from her best friend, a mysterious musician and her loving grandmother, Patti leads the charge against an army of haters, unpaid bills and the broken dreams that are holding her back. (Google synopsis)
The film is 1 hours and 48 minutes and is rated R.
You can view the trailer below or by clicking here.
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