Fox
Channing Tatum's "White House Down" may feel the heat of Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock's buddy film.
We're rolling into another big summer showdown at the box office this weekend.
Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx's over-the-top action thriller "White House Down" ("WHD") is going head-to-head with queen of comedy Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock's cop comedy "The Heat."
Analysts have said it's going to be one of the closest box-office weekends with The Wrap predicting earlier this summer "The Heat" would narrowly edge out the "White House" film.
So far "WHD" had the advantage Thursday evening, earning $1.35 million vs. $1 million in late-night and midnight showings for "The Heat."
However it should be noted Columbia Pictures began rolling out Roland Emmerich's presidential thriller at 7 p.m. as opposed to the funny girl comedy which didn't start showing in theaters until 10 p.m.
While most analysts are expecting the two films to b attle it out for second place at the box office, it looks like the R-rated "Heat" ladies may be hot enough to steal the weekend — even from the clutches of Disney's mammoth "Monsters University."
Here's why the women of "The Heat" could take down Tatum.
Ticket Sales Outpacing "WHD"
Reiner Bajo / Sony Pictures
Online ticket sales for "The Heat" are expected to be higher than that of "WHD."
Fandango tells us that right now "The Heat" is its number one ticket seller among new releases.
Of course, more men may just show up to theaters rather than buy pre-paid tickets.
However, The Hollywood Reporter is already anticipating "WHD" to be one of, if not the lowest-opening weekend of any Emmerich film.
With "Monsters University" expected to lead the box office for the second weekend in a row with at least $40 million, "The Heat" could potentially sneak up on Disney's prequel.
Could an R-rated chick flick really beat "Monsters University"? Fandango's Chief Correspondent Dave Karger says it could happen.
“ It’s very possible that 'The Heat' could win the weekend, as it’s already leading the online and mobile ticket sales on Fandango," says Karger. "If it wins, it would be a huge upset since 'The Heat' is an R-Rated action comedy up against a G-rated family film like 'Monsters' and a PG-13-rated blockbuster like 'White House Down.'”
Melissa McCarthy On The Rise
Universal
Melissa McCarthy's last film "Identity Thief" killed it at the box office opening weekend, exceeding all expectations.
If we've learned anything at the box office this year, it's that people want to see Melissa McCarthy on screen.
As of yesterday, "The Heat" was selling 50% more advance tickets on Fandango than for McCarthy's two previous films "Bridesmaids" and "Identity Thief." Opening weekend, "Bridesmaids" earned $26 million before going on to earn $288 million worldwide.