Universal and Dreamworks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 4" and "Dune: Part Two" are competing for the top spot at the domestic box office."Kung Fu Panda 4" is expected to earn between $45 million to $50 million in its opening weekend, while "Dune: Part Two" aims for $40 million to $45 million in its second week.
Despite any reviews, "Kung Fu Panda 4" is anticipated to benefit from the lack of family films in theaters. Pre-sales indicate it may outperform its predecessors, with the original film grossing $632 million globally.
The production cost of "Kung Fu Panda 4" is $85 million, lower than previous entries. Jack Black returns to voice the main character, Po, in this installment, where he searches for his successor while battling a new enemy, the Chameleon.
"Dune: Part Two" is set to surpass the domestic earnings of its predecessor by Sunday, despite hybrid release challenges. The movie has already made $82 million in North America and $182 million globally.
New to theatres is Lionsgate's "Imaginary," targeting a debut of $10 million to $14 million. Directed by Jeff Wadlow, the film follows a woman tormented by her childhood teddy bear.
The horror genre, especially low-budget films from Jason Blum's production empire, continues to perform well at the box office, with successes like "Five Nights at Freddy’s," "The Exorcist Believer," and "Insidious: The Red Door."
"Imaginary" faces competition from Angel Studio’s "Cabrini," directed by Alejandro Gómez Monteverde, which explores the life of Francesca Cabrini, a Catholic missionary in New York City. This is Angel Studios’ second theatrical release following last summer’s "Sound of Freedom," which earned $242 million globally.
Written by: Erin Macpherson,