The summer movie season officially kicks off with Paramount's "Thor" from Marvel Comics. The first weekend in May is a traditionally strong release frame and a debut in the $60-million-plus range should put the film at the top of the box office."Fast Five" was the first film in 2011 able to attract movie fans in droves, opening with a higher-than-expected $86.2 million. Despite the strong showing, ticket sales for the year are still down 14%. Australian newcomer Chris Hemsworth plays the title character and joins a strong cast including Academy Award winners Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins. IMAX and 3-D should enhance the revenue potential of the film, which earned $83 million overseas last weekend and topped the international charts.
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Sony is also offering a dose of comedic fun with the ensemble comedy "Jumping the Broom," which should draw a solid Mother's Day crowd for a fourth place debut of around $10 million. Angela Bassett leads an impressive cast in a story of two very dissimilar families descending on Martha's Vineyard for a wedding."Something Borrowed," based on Emily Giffin's bestselling novel of the same name, was produced and financed by Alcon Entertainment for about $35 million.
The Warner Bros. release is generating the most buzz among females under 35, who are probably familiar with the popular "chick-lit" book.
