2009 Preview: January - The Numbers

Name: Underworld 3 - Rise of the Lycans
Distributor: Sony
Official Site: EnterTheUnderworld.com
Release Date: January 23, 2009
MPAA Rating: R for bloody violence and some sexuality
Source: Sequel
Major Genre: Action
Keywords: Vampire vs. Werewolf
Production Budget: Unknown - predicted at $40 to $50 million
Box Office Potential: $50 million
Notes: The third, and most likely final installment in the Underworld franchise. This one is a prequel that looks at the origins of the war between the vampires and their former slaves, the Lycans. Because it is a prequel, most of the main cast from the first two films will not return, which could hurt ticket sales. Also an issue, it is set in the Dark Ages, which means it's a period piece and more expensive to make than a movie set in contemporary times. Finally, it is being released in January, which is a terrible month to release a movie, and it does have a lot of direct competition. That said, it is one of the bigger films coming out this month, and should benefit from one of the bigger ad campaigns. It could become the biggest hit of the franchise, or at the very least it should earn comparable box office to the previous two films.

Name: The Uninvited
Distributor: Paramount
Official Site: UninvitedMovie.com
Release Date: January 30, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violent and disturbing images, thematic material, sexual content, language and teen drinking
Source: Remake
Major Genre: Horror
Keywords: Mental Illness, Hauntings, Surprise Twist, Evil Stepmother, and more
Production Budget: Unknown - predicted at $20 to $40 million
Box Office Potential: $40 million
Notes: Emily Browning (from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events) and Arielle Kebbel star as two sisters the former of which has just returned from a mental institute after the tragic death of her mother. But when she returns she have to deal with her new step mother, and the ghost of her mother, who warns her that her new step mother has evil intentions. There are four horror films coming out this month, including another Asian horror remake. With this level of competition, there is little hope that all of these films will reach their box office potential. It is more likely that all four films will bomb than all four will become hits. I don't think this film will be the worst of the four, but it might struggle just to become a mid-level hit.

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