Weekend Box Office Predictions Game: Couples Retreat Flies Solo

Though several small films like The Damned United with Michael Sheen and Free Style see a limited release, Vince Vaughn's Couples Retreat is the lone new wide release film. That leaves four empty slots which we have filled with Toy Story and Story 2 in 3D, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland and The Invention of Lying.

Since four out of five films this week already have numbers under their belt from last weekend, in theory, everyone should put in a good round. In theory. The Prophet has a rough go of it as of late and is hungry for redemption.

Moving forward, prizing will be issued to one of the top finishes if, and only if, the average predictions of all players beat the Prophet. With five films there can be no ties. If the total player count can reach 100 in a single round, I will personally set out to bring a sponsor on board to deliver up regular prizing.

Get playing, then get referring!

There are currently 52 players up against the Prophet The entry period for October 9 - 11 has already ended. Follow the weekly results at the Weekend Box Office Prophet main page. Couples Retreat Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Jean Reno. A little something for everyone. But will the re-teaming of Favreau and Vaughn buy success or is Universal walking into another 2009 flop? 3,000 screens and the sole new wide release should play to its favor. All: $18.9   Me: n/a   Prophet: $22.3   Actual: $34.3 Zombieland Zombieland is a hit with just under $25 million its opening weekend. Sequel rumblings are already surfacing. But can flesh-eating comedy strike gold two weekends in a row? If Couples Retreat proves successful, it will eat into Zombieland. The other way around is just as likely to happen. Don't forget how well Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs performed in its second week. All: $16.0   Me: n/a   Prophet: $15.8   Actual: $14.8 Toy Story and Toy Story 2 3D The Toy Story tag team in 3D brought in an impressive $12.5 million its opening weekend. No new kiddie-targeted competition this upcoming weekend should help keep Buzz, Woody and the gang on peoples' radar. All: $10.0   Me: n/a   Prophet: $7.7   Actual: $7.8 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs I promise this is the last weekend Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will be included. You must give Sony and the film credit for breaking $15 million in its third weekend of release with a mere 36.7% drop from the the second weekend. Cloudy will be the first film to appear in four rounds of this game, deservedly so. All: $10.3   Me: n/a   Prophet: $9.5   Actual: $11.5 The Invention of Lying Ricky Gervais scored his biggest comedy opening yet with The Invention of Lying. $7 million beat forecasts and should help Gervais land many more deals. Too bad Lying now goes up against Couples Retreat as direct competition in the "make me laugh" category. Advantage: the Swingers dudes. All: $5.1   Me: n/a   Prophet: $3.1   Actual: $3.3