Friday Numbers Analysis
By David Mumpower
September 15, 2007
BoxOfficeProphets.com

Jodie Foster reveals her true form.
Jodie Foster's recent hot streak of solid openings appears destined to come to a screeching halt this weekend as The Brave One opens to a disappointing (but expected) $4.6 million in its first day. As chronicled in Kim Hollis' weekend forecast, Foster's last three movies had opened to $30.1 million, $24.6 million and $29.0 million. That's an average of $27.9 million the previous three titles. The Brave One will be lucky to earn half of that. A very good 3.2 multiplier would still give it box office of only $14.7 million. Clearly, the dark tone of the advertising campaign alienated potential viewers. This prevented Foster's core fan-base from supporting her with this feature.

The other two new releases this week wish they could be the type of disappointment that The Brave One is. Mr. Woodcock earned only $2.9 million on Friday, proving yet again that for all his popularity, Billy Bob Thornton is not a box office draw. A $7.5 million weekend is in order, which is better than The Astronaut Farmer's $4.5 million debut. But it'' still not good. Dragon Wars, the Korean production starring that guy from Roswell, finished in fifth place with $1.6 million. Given the fact that it's a virtually unknown series of actors starring in a title from a still green distributor in Newstyle Releasing, this performance isn't that bad. It's just that $4.0 million isn't noteworthy.