After Hollywood enjoyed a very successful President's Day weekend, with six movies scoring more than $10 million, there was hope that this weekend (Feb. 23-25) would continue the roll. Instead, only four movies will top $10 million this weekend. Sony's $110 million comic book adaptation Ghost Rider has rolled to a second consecutive weekend win, but Johnny Blaze is running on fumes. The Mark Steven Johnson-directed action flick generated an estimated $19.7 million, but that's down a staggering 57 percent. With business falling off so dramatically, Ghost Rider will struggle to get much past $100 million despite its 10-day cume of $78.6 million.

Sunday is Christmas Day for movie fans. It's the Academy Awards, live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

For the third consecutive year, I will be hosting ABC Radio Network's Oscar Night special on stations from coast-to-coast. The show will air in New York on WABC from 7-10 p.m. eastern and on KABC in Los Angeles from 7-10 p.m. pacific. Hosting the show with me will be ABC Radio veterans Heidi Oringer and David Blaustein. No matter where you are, you should be able to pick up the show. Check your local ABC Radio affiliates.

After Hollywood enjoyed a very successful President’s Day weekend, with 6 movies scoring more than $10 million, there was hope that this weekend (2/23-25) would continue the roll. Instead, the holdovers suffered major drops in business and all 4 new major releases opened to disappointing business. Sony’s $110 million dollar comic book adaptation Ghost Rider will roll to a second consecutive weekend win, but Johnny Blaze is running on fumes. The Mark Steven Johnson-directed action flick generated an estimated $6 million on Friday, which should translate to a $18.5 million weekend, but that’s down a staggering 59%. Despite a 10-day cume of $77 million by Monday morning, there is no way that Ghost Rider will crack $100 million with business falling off so dramatically.

After Hollywood enjoyed a very successful President’s Day weekend, with 6 movies scoring more than $10 million, there was hope that this weekend (2/23-25) would continue the roll. Instead, it looks like only 3 movies will top $10 million this weekend. Sony’s $110 million dollar comic book adaptation Ghost Rider will roll to a second consecutive weekend win, but Johnny Blaze is running on fumes. The Mark Steven Johnson-directed action flick generated an estimated $6 million on Friday, which should translate to a $19.3 million weekend, but that’s down a staggering 57%. Despite a 10-day cume of $78 million by Monday morning, there is no way that Ghost Rider will crack $100 million with business falling off so dramatically.

Jim Carrey just can't seem to "get serious." When the rubber-faced star does comedy, he can't seem to miss. From the original modestly-budgeted Ace Ventura ($72.2 million) to Dumb and Dumber ($127.1 million) to Liar Liar ($181.4 million) to Me, Myself & Irene ($90.5 million) to How the Grinch Stole Christmas ($260 million) to Fun with Dick & Jane ($110.3 million), when the movie is going purely for laughs, Carrey is money in the bank.

Some weeks, box office projections are easy. For President's Day weekend, the industry tracking was very clear. Most of the so-called "experts" had Ghost Rider (Sony) in the $30 million range, I had it in the $40 million range, and it even did a little better.

Greetings and salutations! Nicodemus here, with predictions, projections and prognostications of films scheduled for release Friday, March 23. (They like to call it One Month Out, which, by the way, was also the original title of Anne Heche's autobiography. However, I digress.)

Gus Van Sant has spent most of his career as a cutting-edge auteur. He has certainly made more mainstream fare -- movies like To Die For, Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester -- but he is at his best when blazing an original path. From the gritty underbelly of drug addiction in Drugstore Cowboy to the lonely life of gay hustlers in My Own Private Idaho to the flat-out avant-garde sensibility of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues to the impressionistic meditation on a Kurt Cobain-like rocker of Last Days, Van Sant may have the most interesting resume of any director working today. He has championed a young filmmaker named Cam Archer, and, after seeing his debut feature, Wild Tigers I Have Known, I can see why.

This column features some fearless forecasting. Which movies will be the biggest hits between now and the end of the summer? There is considerable guesswork involved, but my guesses are better than most.

President's Day Weekend belongs to Nicolas Cage and Ghost Rider (Sony). The Mark Steven Johnson-directed comic book adaptation was not shown to critics prior to its release, but this is the sort of flick that is critic-proof. Cage, who had been on a cold streak that included The Wicker Man ($23 million), The Weather Man ($12 million), Lord of War ($24 million), Matchstick Men ($36 million) and Windtalkers ($40 million), now has his biggest hit since 2004's National Treasure ($173 million). After a powerful $15.5 million Friday, Ghost Rider never looked back, and it will win the four-day weekend with an estimated $51 million. Harley-ridin' Johnny Blaze also wins the PTA battle, with just over $14,000 per location.