Hey, I totally called it! Last week's box office race was one for the ages, as, originally, Pixar's Up barely edged out The Hangover, and then in a sudden twist The Hangover took first place by the smallest of margins. Unfortunately for Will Ferrell and the strange Land of the Lost, all they could do is watch their competition battle it out and settle for third. This weekend looks a little less exciting, but both new wide releases should at the very least make the summer box office game a tad more interesting. Let's take a look …
The Taking of Pelham 123
What's the Scoop: Denzel Washington goes head to head against a mean John Travolta in this remake about an ordinary train employee who finds himself in the middle of a hostage situation when armed men take over one of his trains.
Why It Might Win the Weekend: The combination of director Tony Scott, Denzel Washington and John Travolta should be enough to get a whole ton of people to the theater, however buzz on the film has been fairly quiet and tame.
Imagine That
What's the Scoop: Eddie Murphy returns to family fare with this cutesy comedy about a down-on-his-luck businessman who begins to receive fantastic stock tips from his daughter's imaginary friends.
Why It Might Win the Weekend: The family films seem to be doing pretty well so far this summer, and with parents looking to keep their kids busy this weekend, Imagine That will be the logical (and probable) afternoon excursion to the theater.
Of course, The Hangover, Up and Land of the Lost will all be hanging around the top five, too, giving our new wide releases a run for their money (literally). And oddly enough, neither of this weekend's two films are tracking high on Fandango's nifty advanced ticket meter. So far The Hangover is in the lead with 28% sold. Now it's up to you to decide which film you think has what it takes to win the weekend.
