New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Step Brothers, The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Last week The Dark Knight absolutely dominated the box office, it is likely to do so again as it cruises towards the $300 million mark in record time. Will this week's new releases be able to make any sort of a dent in the Batman film's box office domination? I would have to say doubtful, but I am still interested in both of them. They do try to fill a couple of different needs, they step away from the superhero genre into sophomoric comedy and science fiction, well maybe the latter has a bit of crossover. Anyway, what do you plan on seeing?

Step Brothers. (2008, 95 minutes, R, comedy, trailer) I have to say, the trailers for this look absolutely hilarious. I truly hope that it lives up to the snappy one-liners and oddball humor that took center stage in the commercials. At the very least, I hope it is, at the very least, better than Semi-Pro. Will Ferrell is the kind of guy whose humor needs to be reigned in and controlled by writer and director, this film reunites the creative team from Talladega Nights, which was quite funny, plus it pairs him back with John C. Reilley, a seemingly winning combo. Anyway, the story has Ferrell's Dad and Reilley's Mom (or was that the other way around?) getting married and their adult children having to spend some quality time together. Here's hoping.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe. (2008, 108 minutes, PG-13, science fiction, trailer) This might as well be called The X-Files: I Want it to be Good. I truly want to like this, but I cannot say I have any high hopes or expectations. The trailers have been awful, and I have no idea what to expect. That said, I will be there to see it, hoping for something worth spending time with. It does reunite the original leads and adds new characters in Billy Connolly and Xzibit. Again, here's hoping.

Son of Rambow. (2008, 96 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) This movie has been making the rounds for awhile now, but only know has it come to my town. I am looking forward to seeing this, ever since I saw that fantastic trailer. It is the story of two young boys, one from a strict religious upbringing who become friends and decide to make a movie after watching a copy of Rambo. Sounds simple enough, but you have to see the trailer.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• American Teen
• Boy A
• Brideshead Revisited
• CSNY: Deja Vu

Box Office Predictions
Is there any doubt that The Dark Knight will retain the top spot? Even with a fifty percent drop, it will still make more than $70 million, and I have no doubt it will be in that vicinity. The movie is a great one and is smashing records left and right, there is a good chance it will be north of $300 million before the weekend is out. The two wide releases this week are a little tougher to call, one has a great TV show behind it, but it ended years ago and has had a rather weak promotional campaign, and the other has Will Ferrell. I suspect that X-Files will falter out of the gate, besides I have more friends talking about Step Brothers, so I am going with that to finish the stronger of the two.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	The Dark Knight	$74 million
2	Step Brothers	$28 million
3	The X-Files: I Want to Believe	$20 million
4	Mamma Mia!	$16 million
5	Hancock	$7.5 million
6	Journey to the Center of the Earth	$6 million
7	Wall*E	$5.5 million
8	Hellboy II: The Golden Army	$5 million
9	Space Chimps	$3 million
10	Wanted	$2.5 million