Rolling Thunder

Very surprising number for The Accountant given the critical reception. However, early anecdotal feedback suggests it will connect far better with the moviegoing public. I still didn't think it would crack $20m, though. Seems like a solid number for Hart, as well, though there is very little comp data to go on with a film like this. Could be quite frontloaded.

Max Steel is a potential Derby killer.

Middle School screwed me - changed it to $11m after strangely robust advance sales here. Strange until I remembered (a little too late) that it was Fall Break here and those numbers were likely not representative of the entire country.

Striving for more consistency as I prep for the 2017 season. Very much a Home Run or bust kinda guy right now, but at least when I'm on, it's electric.

Yes, BOM had a visible "Derby" link on the left side of the homepage - hard to miss. I was sad when BOM threw in the towel, thrilled to see it resurrected here, and believe we'll see participation grow. Perhaps we'lost some players when school started again though it doesn't take but a few minutes to at least toss up some predictions.

From a general observation, it seems BOT has a large number (many hundreds?) of users that have never played the Derby. I'd have to figure a percentage of them would be up for giving it a shot, so is it a question of visibility/awareness? Discussing box office and predicting it goes hand-in-hand for many; I think we could expand the pool of players to a solid number if we can get the word out here on BOT. Not sure what would be too intrusive - a banner at the top of the home page, a pop-up for any user signing in, etc. I know the Derby started off very promising and, unless countless dozens became immediately discouraged, there has to be a reason for the steady decline. How did BOM maintain consistent participation? If memory serves, they always had 100-200 players during non-peak months and 400-500 during the summer/holidays (or when a major event film was opening).

Wow, The Wild Life was obliterated!

Where have our players gone? Pretty soon there will only be 20 of us.

Two weeks in a row at 69% - got ya'll shaking in your boots! WTH happened last night? It's like everyone stopped going to the movies when the matinees ended.

As am I, went with $5.3m. I'm fine with it, though - saw no viable reason for it open higher than Jobs. Oliver Stone factor and the upcoming election probably gave it a little bump because the reviews aren't strong enough to attract fence-sitters.

Going to be tough for BW to hit $20m unless the walk-ups are strong.

Blair Witch - $765K

This Is Where I Leave You had a $3.9m Friday off a paltry $150K Thursday preview. This demo is very difficult to extrapolate.

Will @Batescontinue his hot streak as Derby...Master?

I don't smoke anything. WTBB disappointed and people keep showing up to SS for some strange reason. Lots of terrible scores this week. Wild Life was an utter disaster. There was no precedent for it to go that low based on studio comps and I didn't forsee it tanking so bad. Goes to show there are no guarantees (other than me storming back with a vengeance!).

The legend in my own mind loses a little more credibility.

Then again, it's heading for a monstrous 40% on MT and that preview number suggests it won't be another Black Mass egg to the face this September.

Outstanding number. $30m+ seems likely.

Oh wow, I'm not going to win this week.

I get why studios don't release better films on Labor Day weekend but these two offerings are exceptionally sad. Morgan was already DOA and DB busting loose last weekend just added a few extra bullets.

Awesome. This is the weekend I can do all those questionable things I've desired in the back of a dark theater.

Only 30 players this week - might be an all-time low. The rest must be in line for The Light Between Oceans.

@TalismanRingwith a decent shot to win Summer. So far he's surpassed me only from a statistical standpoint - if I don't step it up, though, it will be a more ominous outlook.

*cues Katy Perry's 'Rise' *.

True. His Hands of Stone prediction was more a product of luck vs. skill - that entry was a crapshoot for everyone. No way to know just how poorly it would open.