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Kim Hollis: Mr. Peabody & Sherman debuted with $32.2 million. What do you think about this result?

Edwin Davies: Considering that it's based on cartoon characters that haven't been relevant for at least 30 years, and that pretty much no one has even thought about Mr. Peabody and Sherman since they told Homer Simpson that he was the second non-Brazlian person to travel through time, this isn't the worst possibility. Still, it's pretty uninspiring given that DreamWorks has had much better results opening animated films in March in the past (even The Croods, which no one seemed all that bothered about, opened to $43.6 million last year). The $145 million budget is going to be hard to match unless the film holds spectacularly well. The okay reviews and word-of-mouth suggest that won't be the case, but even a $120 million finish would be pretty good in combination with overseas grosses, which have already been surprisingly strong considering there's even less awareness of the characters outside of America.

Jason Barney: Of the two openings this weekend, I actually see Mr. Peabody and Sherman as the one that is in a more dangerous situation. This kids' film did okay, but it cost $145 million to make, ($45 million more than 300:Rise of an Empire) and opened to $12 million less than the #1 film. Sure, the international numbers are going to be fine and this one probably is on a path to being okay, but I'm in the camp that would say this opening is lower than what the studio would have been hoping for. This is below what The Croods started out with last year. I think The Croods is a stretch as a comparison, as that kids film had the benefit of being the only animated release between late March and Memorial Day weekend. Croods just didn't have any competition. It preformed well, but since it was the only real kids movie at the box office for nine weeks, it had the benefit of an anomaly in the schedule.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman, which my family saw today and my son liked, doesn't have that sort of built in additional help. It has already opened lower than Croods, still has to contend with The LEGO movie, will go up against the Muppets in two weeks, and Rio 2 after that. Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling for it, it was worthy entertainment for my son, but I don't think it is going to perform exceptionally well.

Felix Quinonez: I think considering that the source material isn't really that well known the opening weekend is very good. I honestly have never seen this cartoon or know anyone who is a fan. The fact that it is an animated movie and that it got a strong "A" Cinemascore makes me confident about its staying power. On the other hand, its budget is pretty big and it's going to be tough for this movie to match it domestically. But I believe it will be even bigger overseas and it might even be able to eke out a profit.

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