Can 'Maze Runner' Topple 'Jumanji'?
by EG
The Maze Runner: The Death Cure hits theaters this weekend after a long delay caused by an accident on its set during production. The movie's star, Dylan O'Brien, was seriously injured in the accident, leading to a release delay of about a year. The Maze Runner franchise was already on a downward trajectory even before the incident, but this third installment should still be able to take first place this weekend. The defending champ is Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, but after three weeks at the top, it's beginning to wind down.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure should have no trouble sprinting to the top of the North American box office this weekend with a debut of $20 million or more.
The threequel is the final installment in the successful YA film series adapted from James Dashner's dystopia-themed books.
From 20th Century Fox, Death Cure was originally set to hit theaters a year ago, but its release was delayed when franchise star Dylan O'Brien suffered an injury while filming. Wes Ball directed all three films, the last of which, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, launched to $30.6 million in September 2015. The first outing, The Maze Runner, opened to $32.5 million in September 2014.
This time out, the Gladers travel to the villainous WCKD headquarters to rescue their friends.
Death Cure is also making a play overseas, where it took in a solid $15 million from a handful or markets.
Sony's holiday hit Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, which heads into its sixth weekend, has won the domestic box-office race the past three frames.
Elsewhere, Scott Cooper's gritty Western Hostiles, starring Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike, rides into 2,813 theaters across the country after playing in select cinemas since Christmas. Distributor Entertainment Studios is hopeful that the period pic, which has grossed $1.6 million to date, will garner upwards of $10 million this weekend.
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
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