New Movies August 5: 'Suicide Squad' Ready for Huge Opening

Everyone expects Suicide Squad to be this weekend's top movie, but some observers have even higher expectations than that for the new DC Comics superhero flick. Some expert box-office predictors think that the film has a chance to have one of the top five biggest openings of the year.

Most projections have Suicide Squad earning at least $125 over the weekend, and some predictions have it scoring as much as $140 million. Those numbers would easily best the previous record for an August opening, and if the film's opening-weekend take comes in near the top of the range, it could rank as the third biggest opener of the year so far.

To make it into the top five, Suicide Squad has to beat The Secret Life Of Pets' $104 million opening-weekend earnings. After that, the competition gets tougher. Deadpool currently holds the number-four slot with $132 million, and Finding Dory is in third place with $135 million.

Suicide Squad has little chance of moving into second place - that spot is held by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, with $166 million - and Captain America: Civil War's $179 million puts first place well out of reach.

Despite high expectations, Suicide Squad could be hampered by bad reviews; it currently holds a 33% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On the other hand, Batman v Superman bowed to similarly bad critical reception and still managed a stellar opening weekend.