Long Range Forecast: 'Madea's Big Happy Family,' 'Water for Elephants,' 'Apollo 18' and 'African Cats'

Featured Stories - on February 26, 2011 by Phil Contrino

madeasfamilyforecast.pngThis week, we've added four new films to our Long Range Forecast. Madea's Big Happy Family, Water for Elephants, Apollo 18 and African Cats are all set to open on April 22.

Tyler Perry's biggest hits have happened when his Madea character is the main focus, so expectations are high for Madea's Big Happy Family. After taking a step into more dramatic territory with For Colored Girls, Perry returns to more comfortable ground and his fan base will surely welcome it with open arms.

Water for Elephants has the feel of Oscar contender, so it will come as a breath of fresh air to adult moviegoers looking for a weighty drama. It also helps that Elephants is based on a best-selling novel.

Sci-fi thrillers are hit-and-miss, so Apollo 18 will walk a thin line. Luckily, reactions to the first trailer are mostly positive.

African Cats should post similar numbers to the last two Disneynature docs: Earth ($8.8 million debut/$32 million domestic total) and Oceans ($6 million debut/$19.4 million domestic total).

Check out our predictions for these films as well as others in the table below.

Title Release Date Distributor Opening Weekend Cumulative
Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family Apr 22, 2011 Lionsgate
 $30,000,000 $67,000,000
African Cats Apr 22, 2011 Disneynature
 $8,000,000 $25,000,000
Apollo 18 Apr 22, 2011 Weinstein Company
 $19,000,000 $40,000,000
Water For Elephants Apr 22, 2011 Fox
 $19,000,000 $60,000,000
Scream 4 Apr 15, 2011 Weinstein Company
 $50,000,000 $115,000,000
Rio Apr 15, 2011 Fox
 $35,000,000 $135,000,000
Soul Surfer Apr 8, 2011 Sony / TriStar
 $5,000,000 $15,000,000
Arthur (2011) Apr 8, 2011 Warner Bros.
 $10,000,000 $27,000,000
Your Highness Apr 8, 2011 Universal
 $17,000,000 $42,000,000
Hanna Apr 8, 2011 Focus
 $4,000,000 $12,000,000
Insidious Apr 1, 2011 FilmDistrict
 $9,000,000 $21,000,000
Hop Apr 1, 2011 Universal
 $18,000,000 $75,000,000
Source Code Apr 1, 2011 Summit
 $17,000,000 $55,000,000
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules Mar 25, 2011 Fox
 $25,000,000 $70,000,000
Sucker Punch Mar 25, 2011 Warner Bros.
 $23,000,000 $55,000,000
Limitless Mar 18, 2011 Relativity Media
 $16,000,000 $50,000,000
Paul Mar 18, 2011 Universal
 $12,000,000 $32,000,000
The Lincoln Lawyer Mar 18, 2011 Lionsgate
 $7,000,000 $23,000,000
Red Riding Hood Mar 11, 2011 Warner Bros.
 $22,000,000 $62,000,000
Mars Needs Moms Mar 11, 2011 Disney
 $16,000,000 $55,000,000
Battle: Los Angeles Mar 11, 2011 Sony / Columbia
 $35,000,000 $95,000,000
Rango Mar 4, 2011 Paramount
 $46,000,000 $160,000,000
Beastly Mar 4, 2011 CBS Films
 $9,000,000 $23,000,000
The Adjustment Bureau Mar 4, 2011 Universal
 $14,000,000 $38,000,000
Take Me Home Tonight Mar 4, 2011 Relativity Media
 $5,000,000 $13,000,000

Additional reporting by Daniel Garris and Alex Edghill.

Tags: Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, Water for Elephants, Apollo 18, African Cats

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