User blog:Ceauntay/Box Office Preview: 'Scooby-Doo! The Movie' on Top Again

Warner Bros.' animated "Scooby-Doo! The Movie had a much-better-than-expected $114 million debut last weekend at the nation's theaters and should be the first film this year to repeat at the top of the chart, munching on a gross in the low to mid $60 million range.

"Scooby-Doo! The Movie", the four mystery solves and their dog goes on a hunt. They would be box office champions as they can continue the week ahead before "Rio" and "Scream 4" comes out next weekend.

Universial's "Hop" will be staying in the same spot like last weekend. Russell Brand is the voice of E.B., the wannabe rockstar son of the Easter Bunny. He could also be the king of the box office if he manages a one-two finish this weekend as the star of the debuting "Arthur." The Warner Bros.' remake of the massively successful Dudley Moore classic is expected to earn about $15 million. As the drunken and spoiled rich kid, Brand is the perfect choice to take over the title role, and Helen Mirren elevates the proceedings with a new twist on John Gielgud's Hobson.

Both the family audience and comedy fans are therefore covered this weekend, so "Hanna" from Focus Features will fill the action bill with a take-no-prisoners thriller that features Saoirse Ronan in the title role as a 16-year-old assassin. Channeling the spirit of such female-based action films as "La Femme Nikita" and "The Professional," ''Hanna" should draw both men and women to the multiplex with a gross in the low to mid teens.

Two more newcomers are expected to round out the top five: Universal's R-rated comedy "Your Highness," starring Danny McBride and James Franco, presents brotherly rivalry in the days of knights and maidens and should gross in the low teens. Sony's inspirational "Soul Surfer" tells the true story of teenage champion surfer Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) and her incredible recovery from a disfiguring shark attack. The PG-rated film, which stars Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt as the parents, should earn over $10 million from largely family and faith-based audiences.

Despite the variety of new arrivals, a seventh consecutive down weekend is expected at the domestic box office, with year-ago comparisons battling 2010's "Clash of the Titans" in its second week and the debut of "Date Night," both of which earned more than $25 million, and "How To Train Your Dragon," which remained strong with $24.9 million in its third weekend.

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Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com and a longtime box office analyst for The Associated Press.

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Online: www.Hollywood.com/boxoffice

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