TYLER PERRY - BOX-OFFICE COMEBACK?

BOX-OFFICE COMEBACK?

The box office, which produced its smallest gross in five years last weekend, is expected to revive this weekend with the star-studded comedy Burn After Reading and the thriller Righteous Kill. Ticket sales are also expected to be boosted by the new Tyler Perry comedy, The Family That Preys , which was not screened for critics, and the female-oriented The Women, which stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith. Of all the new films, the critics appear to favor Burn After Reading, which stars Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovich and Frances McDormand, although the film is not expected to gross more than $10-13 million. It opened in many theaters Thursday night at midnight. But most express disappointment in Righteous Kill, despite the performances of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino who are reuniting for the first time since 1995. Nevertheless, it is expected to lead the box office with about $14-16 million. The Women, which is aimed at the Sex and the City crowd, and which is being bashed by critics, is expected to generate about  $9-11 million.

12/09/2008