KATHERINE HEIGL - A WEEKEND WITHOUT SEQUELS

For a change, not a single sequel is opening at the box office this weekend. That said, none of the films that are opening is expected to give any of the sequels that arrived earlier any serious competition. Not only that, next week they will have to compete against another sequel that is expected to be a big draw -- Ocean's 13. Analysts say that of the new releases, director Judd Apatow's well-received comedy Knocked Up with Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl has the best chance of making any kind of showing. The only other film that is expected to draw a respectable audience is MGM's Mr. Brooks, featuring Kevin Costner as a serial killer. Each film, however is expected to take in only around $15 million. By contrast, the second weekend of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and the third weekend of Shrek the Third are expected to draw about $55 million and $30 million respectively.

01/06/2007