By Chris Kavan - 04/13/17 at 06:48 AM CT
Last week was the calm before the storm, this week we're getting that storm and its name is Fate of the Furious. The last film may have been a fitting tribute to the late Paul Walker, but many are saying that Fate of the Furious could be the biggest opening for the franchise yet. It's looking very good as it stands almost unchallenged, the only other new film with an (expanded) opening is Gifted, which follows the story of a single father trying to raise his genius niece. I have a feeling that's not going to provide much of a challenge to the new Furious films and, despite holding up well over the weeks, I don't think any of the films that have been doing well (Boss Baby, Beauty and the Beast) will put up much of a challenge this weekend, either.
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS It has been two years since Furious 7 bid goodbye to Paul Walker and broke records in the process. The Fate of the Furious presents a new chapter in the franchise (which has already been greenlit for a 9th entry, unsurprisingly). Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are finally reunited while the rest of the crew (Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Dwayne Johnson) are free to live their own lives. But this peace is short-lived when Dom joins forces with a dangerous criminal organization run by a seductive, deadly woman (Charlize Theron), betraying his friends in the process. In order to get to the bottom of this change, the crew will have to team up with an old enemy (Jason Statham) with a little help from Nobody (Kurt Russell) and his protege (Scott Eastwood). I'm guessing this movie is going to be just as over-the-top as previous entries, with the trailers suggesting a chase across the ice, involving a submarine no less, may be the kicker. In any case, the Furious films have always been entertaining - as long as you don't take things too seriously. I don't see why this new film is going to be any different - and if it's the highest-opening in the franchise history or even if it's not, we're going to get plenty more as long as the actors involved are willing to keep going along for the ride.
What film would dare go up against The Fate of the Furious? Why, a heart-warming family drama about a single father (Chris Evans) raising his child prodigy niece (Mckenna Grace) whose way of life is threatened when his domineering mother (Lindsay Duncan) makes plans of her own. The film also stars Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer and Glenn Plummer. I'm sure this is a completely sweet movie that is sure to find an audience but going up against Fate of the Furious? It's going to get buried and I doubt it will make much of a difference once Sunday rolls around. If it manages to break the top 10, I would be impressed.
The weekend is all about how well The Fate of the Furious is going to do - domestic and worldwide. We'll see if it's going to make the record books or not.
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