MERYL STREEP - CRITICS WAVING FLAGS FOR G.I. JOE -- RED ONES

CRITICS WAVING FLAGS FOR G.I. JOE -- RED ONES

G.I. Joe invades the multiplex this weekend, and box-office prognosticators are at odds over how successful it will be. Some insist that it will attract just about every tween boy and their fathers, but others suggest that ticket sales from such a narrow demographic are not likely to justify the movie's reported $175-million budget. Daily Variety commented "Box office observers suggest that G.I. Joe could open north of $50 million, but with the unpredictable nature of tracking in recent months, no one's making a firm wager." The Los Angeles Times added that the film is likely to take in an additional $40 million overseas. "A worldwide opening weekend of $90 million to $100 million, while solid, isn't huge for a movie the scale of G.I. Joe ," the newspaper said. Nevertheless, Paramount could reap handsome profits from its deal with Hasbro, the toy manufacturer, which is likely to sell millions of action figures as a result of fan interest generated by the movie. Also opening this weekend is Sony's favorably reviewed Julie & Julia , about TV chef Julia Child, played by Meryl Streep, and a woman played by Amy Adams who keeps an online diary about preparing her recipes. The film is expected to earn about $20 million. A third film, the R-rated horror flick A Perfect Getaway, appears to be tracking off the radar and is expected to earn just $5-8 million, although it is receiving many positive reviews.

07/08/2009