‘Transformers’ Eyes Mega $100 Million Opening

Paramount Pictures’ Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theaters this weekend, and is aiming for the mega $100 million opening for 2014.

The summer action blockbuster is expected to generate more than $100 million, with some analysts even predicting $110-120 million, when it debuts this weekend in 4,200 locations. If all goes well, the film’s figures will trump the biggest opening of the year so far, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which took in $95 million back in April.

Other 2014 debuts that come close to those statistics are Godzilla ($93 million), Amazing Spider-Man 2 ($91.6 million), and X-Men: Days of Future Past ($90.8 million).

“The market is wide open for a big hit and the brand recognition of the (Transformers) franchise is pretty staggering,” said Phil Contrino, vice president and chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. “Even if it doesn’t win the summer or the year at the domestic box office, its overseas potential is huge and that’s the name of the game.”

Though analyst predictions have been very positive, the studio is projecting that the Michael Bay-directed film will land somewhere between $90 million to $100 million. The last film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, cost $200 million to produce, and took in $97.9 million on its first weekend in 2011.

Transformers’ previous lead, actor Shia LaBeouf, did not return for the latest installment; he has formerly stated that he will not return following Dark of the Moon. This time around, however, young stars Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor will be making their first appearance in the franchise, alongside actor Mark Wahlberg.

Analysts say that the new additions will do the franchise some good, and may possibly be reinvigorating. “It was like adding the Rock to the Fast and Furious franchise,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “It reinvents it.”