This Father’s Day weekend 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2 will be battling out for the number one spot at the box office.
Both films did exceptionally well their first time around. 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon earned $217.5 million domestically and was one of the biggest hits for DreamWorks. Even after four years, it still remains to be one of the more popular animated movies.
Predictions are estimating that How to Train Your Dragon 2 could reach the $60 to $70 million range, especially with it being the summer’s first animated family film to hit theaters. While the first film opened to $43.7 million, it had a strong hold on the box office and becoming a huge success.
In 2012, Sony’s 21 Jump Street had low expectations when it first opened in theaters, but ended up exceeding them all –grossing $138.4 million and becoming a big hit in the box office. It more than quadrupled it’s $36.3 million opening. The film, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, will be releasing a sequel this weekend that is estimated to gross $64 million.
The upcoming sequels are catering to entirely different audiences. Adults will sure gather to see police officers Hill and Tatum go undercover at a college campus in the R-rated comedy film. With the last major animated movie to open in theaters was last April’s Rio 2 – families will flock to see Hiccup the Viking and his fire-breathing companion explore new lands in the PG-rated animation.
“These movies are perfectly counterprogrammed,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “When you have a variety of entertainment options in the marketplace, it enhances the marketplace.”
Which movie will you see this weekend?
