It's No Classic, But Brad Pitt's 'Fury' Should Top Box-Office
It's safe to assume we all imagined Fury would probably be better than it is. Brad Pitt - playing a sort of version of his _Inglorious Basterd_s character - teaming up with David Ayer, one of the world's most exciting directors, for a World War II epic. What's not to like? Well, it appears Ayer, who also penned the script, left too many clichés in there and not nearly enough drama.
This isn't a bad movie by any stretch - in fact, it's a pretty good war movie. It just won't trouble the Oscars voters. Fury cost around $68 million to produce and should take around $25 million from 3,155 locations this weekend.
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"I don't think there's any stopping 'Fury,'" said Jeff Bock, an analyst with Exhibitor Relations. "Brad Pitt is one of the last remaining stars who can carry a picture."
Fury should eclipse David Fincher's Gone Girl, though the mystery-drama will take a considerable slice of the war epic's potential takings and should pull in $17 million for second or third place. Animated Day of the Dead adventure The Book of Life won't be too far behind and should do $16-18 million to start the ball rolling on recouping its $50 million budget.
After the top three, Dracula Untold and newcomer The Best of Me will likely battle for fourth place, while the bottom of the barrel - namely Alexander and the Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day and The Judge - will fight to the death for fifth.
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Still, the best movie out this weekend is Birdman - which gets a limited release to enable art-house movie buffs their first look at one of the frontrunners for best picture at the Oscars.
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