User blog:Ceauntay/Box Office: 'Will & Grace' May Not Outcome 'Madagascar'

3D toon on track for $36 million-plus at Father's Day B.O.



It's going to be once again a very tight race this weekend as either "Will & Grace 2" and "Madagascar 3" are fighting for the No. 1 spot, while "Prometheus" is struggling to to take the No. 3 spots domestically, but for stars Tom Cruise and Adam Sandler -- typically big B.O. draws -- the numbers are anything but familiar.

According to early Friday estimates, Warner Bros.' "Will & Grace 2" may possibly take second place with $32 million, but will eventually have a blast on Friday making in $14 million.

Bad news is that it will be a lower opening than "Will & Grace" has opened two years ago to $17 million. That opened on a Wednesday rather than on a Friday as it has made a whooping $25 million on a Friday, before making in a three-day total to $70 million for a total of $101 million in five days. Good news is that it does includes a very healthy $6.1 million from midnight screenings.

Warner Bros.' "Rock of Ages" is tracking in the high-teens to low-twenties for the weekend while Sandler's R-rated "That's My Boy" is in fourth place with $13 million-$16 million.

The last time an Adam Sandler movie opened below $20 million domestically was 2007's "Reign Over Me," another R-rated Sony pic.

Co-starring Andy Samberg and made for $65 million, "That's My Boy" could see better days ahead as Sandler films typically generate solid multiples.

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise, who last appeared in Paramount's B.O. titan "Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol," is earning raves for his perf in Adam Shankman's adaptation of the "Rock of Ages" musical, but, according to one analyst, guys just aren't buying it.

"It's a tough sell," the source says of the femme-skewing pic. "I think the lack of humor in the trailers turned off a lot of men."

On the brighter side, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" continues to reign in the U.S.

Paramount and DreamWorks Animation's 3D toon is suiting up for a $10 million Friday and $36 million-plus for the weekend.

Featuring the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer, "Madagascar" has already cumed over $200 million worldwide and should cross the $100 mil mark Stateside tomorrow.

Fox's "Prometheus," which launched today throughout Latin America, is off 50-55% in its sophomore frame. Ridley Scott's 3D sci-fier, starring Noomi Rapace and Charlize Theron, is expected to gross between $20 million and $25 million through Sunday.

Contact Stuart Oldham at stuart.oldham@variety.com