Box Office Preview: ‘Doctor Strange’ To Rule The Weekend

Doctor Strange is headed to the No. 1 spot!

Marvel-Disney’s Doctor Strange is on track to dominate the box office this weekend. The film is headed for a $75 million debut from 3,882 locations in North America.

Directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister), Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular superhero, alongside Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tilda Swinton. It follows a brilliant surgeon, named Stephen Strange, who turns to the mystical arts following a car accident that destroyed his hands.

“Benedict Cumberbatch makes his Marvel big screen debut in the role he was born to play as ‘Dr. Strange’ will pull a revenue generating rabbit out of the hat with a weekend gross that is on the low end expected to bring in the low $70 millions, while on the high end could be pushing $90 million,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with comScore. “This made all the more impressive by a featured superhero that is lesser-known and decidedly esoteric, yet carries the legendarily strong appeal of the Marvel imprimatur.”

The other weekend newcomers include DreamWorks Animation and Fox’s Trolls and Lionsgate’s Hacksaw Ridge.

Trolls, starring Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, is projected to earn around $38 million from 4,060 locations. Timberlake, who also served as executive producer of the soundtrack, has an original hit song that is featured in the adventure film, called “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”

Based on the popular dolls of the same name, Trolls tells the story of two trolls who must save their village from destruction by the Bergens, who love to eat the little creatures.

Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson’s World War II drama, is expected to debut within the $12 million-$15 million range from 2,886 locations. The film is about conscientious objector Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield, who won the Medal of Honor for saving more than 75 lives as a medic during the Battle of Okinawa. Vince Vaughn and Teresa Palmer co-star.

Check out the trailers below!