New Movies January 15: Another Ride Along and Michael Bay Does Benghazi

This could be the week that The Force Awakens finally lets some other new movie take the top spot at the box office, although it's not at all clear which new release could be granted the honor of being the new number one. Three new wide releases, as well as a hold-over or two, will be eager to fill the spot.

The first of this week's new movies is 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, a Michael Bay action movie that hopes to take advantage of the ultra-patriotism that made American Sniper a hit last year. The film will draw conservative viewers, and Bay's explosion-laden style might attract younger audiences, too. The film is expected to earn about $20 million for the weekend.

Next is Ride Along 2, a sequel to the 2014 buddy comedy starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. Both stars are back for the sequel, and it's set in Miami. This one has the best shot at taking the weekend's top spot, with observers predicting that it will earn somewhere between $30 and $40 million.

The final new wide release is Norm of the North, an animated film about a polar bear who travels to New York City. The premise of this one -- a wild animal out of its element in an urban environment -- is not exactly original, and it's not getting good critical reviews, so don't expect it to be in the hunt.