This weekend "Identity Thief" and "Side Effects" open nationwide in hopes of taking the box office crown from incumbent "Warm Bodies." They will also open against Winter Storm Nemo, which could affect their earnings.
The first big release of the week is "Identity Thief" starring Academy Award Nominee Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman. Seth Gordon's film tells the story of Sandy Patterson who travels from Denver to Miami to confront the woman who stole his identity. The film has received bad reviews with an aggregate score of 26 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Opening in 3,141 theaters, "Thief" is expected to open with $25 million.
The Second release of the week is "Side Effects" by director Steven Soderbergh. The film tells the story of Emily and Martin, a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Dr. Jonathon Banks, Emily's psychiatrist has unexpected side effects. The film stars Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta Jones and Channing Tatum. "Effects" has scored great reviews with 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and is expected to make $12 million over the weekend. Open Road unveils the film in 2,605 theaters.
The last movie to open nationwide is a re-release of the classic 1986 film "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruise. Paramount will unveil the film in a new 3D version and will bring it to 300 theaters.
The art house theaters will see critically acclaimed Italian film "Caesar Must Die" and German Film "Lore" open in New York and Los Angeles. Both films were official submissions for the Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards; neither was nominated.
The last film to open is Roman Coppola's "A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III." "Charles Swan" stars Charlie Sheen, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Aubrey Plaza. It opens in New York.