Fantasy Movie League


For one, brief, shinning moment on Sunday, I had a Perfect Cineplex, which felt like the perfect way to kick off the new Fall Season. IT Chapter 2 on Saturday was the anchor play and The Peanut Butter Falcon was the Best Value. It was glorious. But, of course, things can change fast, and the action at the theater on Sunday certainly did that.

After the final totals were recorded, Hobbs & Shaw moved up to take Best Value, leading to a big shift in the Perfect Cineplex. My instincts were good, and two screens of IT Saturday were the perfect anchor, but my bet on 111was the difference of $16 million, which is what the Perfect Cineplex finished above mine with bonuses.

For this week, Pennywise is still lurking near the top of the Box Office heap, but Jennifer Lopez headlines a film about strippers that enters the fray. Can it challenge for the top spot? Let’s consider the arguments. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can join the league here. On to this week’s competition.

New at the Box Office:

The biggest of two new releases is Hustlers, a new film starring Lopez, among others, that figures to be one of the week’s biggest. It’s priced at $516 FML Bucks, second most in the game, and it’s gotten great reviews. It currently sits at 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Fantasy Movie League has it at $28.6 million, in second place. Box Office Pro and Box Office Report also have it in second place, but with higher totals and closer to numbers for IT Chapter 2. Box Office Pro sees $32 million, while Box Office Report projects $31 million. That could give it better value as an anchor.
The next biggest new release is The Goldfinch, based on a novel and starring Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman, among others. It is probably not good, boasting a woeful 27 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the kiss of death for a film that looks made for award season. It’s $126 FML Bucks and projected at $5.7 million. Box Office Pro sees it with $7 million and Box Office Report sees $7.5 million. Bad reviews and bad word-of-mouth could hurt the film, but likely moreso in Week 2 than opening weekend. So this could have some sneaky value.
The final new entry is the limited release Brittany Runs a Marathon. And the comedy has been a hit with critics, boasting a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a scant $37 FML Bucks, and projected at $1.4 million. Box Office Report sees $1.5 million, and as it expands its number of screens it could be a good low-end filler.

The Search for the Best Value:

IT Chapter 2 is back in single scoring, and is the most expensive in the game at $731 FML Bucks. It’s also projected in first. Fantasy Movie League sees $40.2 million. But they are the highest. Box Office Pro sees just $36 million, and Box Office Report sees just $38.5 million. That combined with its below-projected opening weekend make me think this one isn’t worth its cost at the top of your Cineplex.

In the soft middle, Fantasy Movie League is the lowest, but a couple hundred thousand, on Angel Has Fallen, Good Boys and The Lion King. And while those could be a better value against cost, their projected ranges between $2.8 and $3.6 million likely aren’t enough to provide the boost to win the week.

This Week’s Lineup:

I’m banking on Hustlers, then filling in for the best value I think I can get.

Hustlers
The Goldfinch
Angel Has Fallen
The Lion King x3
Hobbs & Shaw x2

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