Several of my regular sources are predicting something in the $20 million range for the first three days of Hellboy II's release, but, although tracking is a bit soft, I still believe that this movie will generate a $33 million-$36 million opening, which would likely be enough to hold off Hancock for No. 1 and mark the best start ever for a Guillermo del Toro-directed movie.

FILMS DIRECTED BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO
Cronos (1994) — $17,500 opening, $625,000 cume
Mimic (1997) — $7.81 million opening, $25.48 million cume
The Devil's Backbone (2001) — $35,000 opening, $755,000 cume
Blade II (2002) — $32.52 million opening, $82.34 million cume
Hellboy (2004) — $23.17 million opening, $59.62 million cume
Pan's Labyrinth (2006) — $570,000 opening, $37.63 million cume

A quick word about Sony's Peter Berg-directed superhero pic Hancock. Despite its wildly polarizing third-act twist, it received a solid B+ from moviegoers surveyed by Cinemascore last weekend, and the grade was an even stronger A- with Males Under 25. The movie is good fun, and, although I am not a big fan of "the twist," Hancock makes for a breezy summer blockbuster that successfully capitalizes on Will Smith’s charm. All of this adds up to what should be a decent hold and a second-weekend take in the $29 million-$32 million range.

Exhibitors across the country have been racing to add Digital 3D at theaters in order to take full advantage of Journey to the Center of the Earth (Warner Bros.), starring Brendan Fraser, which also opens this weekend. Critics who have seen the movie, in 3D, have been very positive, even "blown away," but many have advised that as a traditional 2D film it may be lacking.

There is no denying that Digital 3D technology is an important part of the film industry's future. Disney's Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour movie opened at 683 3D locations, and it scored an opening weekend Per Theatre Average of $45,500, but Journey will not match that PTA at its 800 or so 3D locations. Still, its Digital 3D-equipped screens will likely dramatically outperform the theaters with traditional 2D presentation.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a family film, and there are a lot of kids not represented in its so-so tracking , so that, combined with the anticipated 3D boost, should result in a three-day of something in the $19 million-$22 million range, which would make it Brendan Fraser's all-time third-best opening:

ALL-TIME TOP 5 BRENDAN FRASER OPENINGS
1. The Mummy Returns — $68.13 million
2. The Mummy — $43.36 million
3. George of the Jungle — $16.54 million
4. Bedazzled — $13.1 million
5. Encino Man — $9.86 million

The news is not good for Meet Dave, Fox's reteaming of star Eddie Murphy and director Brian Robbins, who scored big together with Norbit last year. The campaign just has not clicked with audiences and the First Choice score is disastrously low.

It appears that this will be Murphy's softest opening since The Adventures of Pluto Nash ($2.18 million), and, amazingly, this movie could score a sub-$10 million opening. I am predicting $8 million-$11 million.

FINAL BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS WEEKEND OF JULY 11
1. Hellboy II (Universal) — $35 million
2. Hancock (Sony) — $30 million
3. WALL-E (Disney) — $23 million
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth — $22 million
5. Meet Dave (20th Century Fox) — $10 million
6. Get Smart (Warner Bros.) — $6.4 million
7. Kung Fu Panda (DreamWorks/Paramount) — $4.75 million
8. The Incredible Hulk (Universal) — $2.6 million
9. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount) — $2.5 million
10. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Picturehouse) — $1.5 million