Five movies are getting a nationwide release this weekend, though - TopicsExpress

Five movies are getting a nationwide release this weekend, though only one of them is brand-new. The Legend of Hercules is unlikely to have much of an impact, though, and first place should belong to well-marketed war movie Lone Survivor. Expanding to 2,876 locations, Lone Survivor tells the story of Operation Red Wings, a disastrous 2005 Navy SEALs mission in Afghanistan that resulted in 19 U.S. casualties. Instead of focusing on the downer of a story, though, Universals marketing has played up the movies themes of courage and brotherhood. This may not work well with some cynical audiences, but average moviegoers will likely embrace the movies overt patriotism. On the same weekend in 2012, star Mark Wahlbergs Contraband opened to $24.3 million. Meanwhile, fellow war movies Zero Dark Thirty and Black Hawk Down also expanded in mid-January and took in $24.4 million and $28.6 million, respectively. A similar result wouldnt be surprising for Lone Survivor, though Universal has it pegged in the mid-to-high teens right now.