New Movies January 20: Xander Cage, Multiple Personalities and McDonald's

There aren't going to be many big stars performing in Washington this weekend, but there will be plenty of them at the box office. Four new wide releases come to theaters this weekend, and there's a good chance that a new number-one movie will emerge from the pack of newcomers.

The first of the four new movies is xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. This is the latest installment in Vin Diesel's other franchise, the one that doesn't involve fast cars or furious street racing. The xXx franchise hasn't been near the reliable blockbuster performer as Diesel's Fast and Furious work, but this one could pull in big enough audiences to surge past Hidden Figures, La La Land and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The other contender this week is Split, the new thriller from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan. The filmmaker hasn't had much luck producing a financially successful movie so far this century, but critics say this one could be different. If audiences take to James McAvoy's creepy performance as a mentally ill kidnapper, this one stands a chance of taking the top spot.

The third new release of the week, The Founder, features Michael Keaton as the founder of the McDonald's fast-food chain. It will be playing in only a third as many theaters as the first two wide releases, and it's not the kind of film that's going to have mass appeal. Don't expect it to make the top five.

Also not in contention is the final new wide release, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, a Christian comedy/drama about a former actor who has a spiritual awakening. Some Christian films have been box-office hits over the past few years, but only if they've featured resurrected children or faith-based culture wars. This film has neither, so don't expect it to generate much interest beyond its faithful base.