This means it's officially set to have the best opening of any standalone *Predator* film.
It also has a chance to beat *AVP: Alien vs. Predator*, which opened in 2004 with $38.4 million, becoming the highest-grossing film in the sci-fi franchise when adjusted for inflation.
The movie, from 20th Century and Disney, is doing better than expected, thanks to strong reviews and growing audience buzz.
It's the only *Predator* film, including the two *Alien* crossover movies, to get an A- CinemaScore. Its PostTrak scores are also amazing, with five out of five stars.
*Badlands*, which Trachtenberg co-wrote with his *Prey* writer Patrick Aison, is leading the way for the now nine-film *Predator* franchise, which started with John McTiernan's 1987 classic.
The franchise, produced by John Davis, moved to Disney after the Fox merger.
Trachtenberg has always impressed people, starting with 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) and then Prey (2021) and June's Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology, both of which came out on Disney's Hulu. In this new movie, he makes a villainous Predator named Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, the main character. Dek is teamed up with Elle Fanning's Weyland-Yutani synthetic, Thia. Dek was cast out by his Yautja clan and, in a last chance to prove himself, he flies his brother Kwei's ship to Genna, the most dangerous planet in the universe, to hunt its most legendary creature. That's where he meets Thia.
Another surprise is Regretting You, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book.
Now in its third weekend, the movie, which appeals mostly to women, is getting a lot of attention because it's still doing well. It recently passed the horror film Black Phone 2. Paramount estimates that the female-led movie will drop by about seven percent to $7.3 million, placing it at No. 2, despite many new films coming out this weekend. The domestic total is expected to reach $38.8 million. Marc Weinstock, who recently left Paramount, was the main person who convinced the studio to pick up the rights in the U.S. and some other markets from Constantin films. He's also responsible for the movie's marketing campaign.
Blumhouse's Black Phone sequel is staying at No. 3 with an estimated $5.2 million in its fourth weekend, giving it a domestic total of $70 million.
Amazon MGM's Sarah's Oil, based on the true story of a black woman who became the richest woman in Texas because of oil, is expected to come in at No. 4 with a solid $4.4 million opening.
Although critics are mixed, the movie has a strong connection with audiences, as seen by its A+ CinemaScore and a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A group of award contenders are opening, led by Sony Pictures Classics' Nuremberg.
The historical film is expected to be in the top five with an estimated $3.7 million to $4 million. It has strong audience reactions, including a 96 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Award movies struggling with their box office opening include Mubi's Die My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.
This film got a rare D+ CinemaScore from moviegoers and a "rotten" audience rating of 44 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, although critics like it more. It's expected to come in at No. 8 with about $2.5 million to $2.7 million.
Christy, led by Sydney Sweeney and starring a high-profile actress, may not make the top 10.
However, similar to Lawrence in Die My Love, critics are praising Sweeney's performance, even if they don't like the movie itself. Christy received a solid B+ CinemaScore and good reviews. Based on a true story, Sweeney changed her body to play Christy Martin, who helped make women's boxing more respected. The film stars Ben Foster as the trainer who becomes her abusive husband.
Neon is opening Sentimental Value, an acclaimed Swedish drama and one of several award contenders this year, in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles this weekend.
Early signs suggest it could have a strong per-theater average of around $50,000, which would be one of the best of the year. Directed by Joachim Trier, the family drama stars Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning.
Numbers will be updated Sunday morning.
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