HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Crowded weekend, nobody knows about it, similarly-themed Rocket Science comes out (albeit in limited release) next week, and even Rushmore didn't make good wide release money. $15mil.

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EL CANTANTE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The Salsa King

WILL IT SUCK?
Basically critics seem split on whether or not the caliente muscial numbers are enough to support the whatever-is-Spanish-for-tepid rest of the film. But, if you wanna see J-Lo and M-Anto in a movie together, now's your chance.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Outside her wheelhouse, J-Lo is no safe bet. $26mil.

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THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Matt Damon kicks more ass.

WILL IT SUCK?
They've really pulled out all the stops (and no, I will not make a Tom Stoppard pun here even though he's contributing to the screenplay). Paul Greengrass is back in the director's chair and Tony Gilroy is back writing with the aforementioned Stoppard in tow as well as a little Paul Attanasio thrown in for good measure (we'll try to forget that George "The Sentinel" Nolfi is also credited). All the regular cast is back along with David Straithairn following in the character-actor-turned-Bourne-villain steps of Chris Cooper and Brian Cox before him. Unfortunately, the rumored casting of Gael Garcia Bernal as Carlos the Jackal failed to materialize. I doubt that pitting Bourne against Carlos is even in the plot anymore, but who knows?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Little bit of competition from Rush Hour 3 next week, but not much. $167mil.

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HOT ROD

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Andy Samberg as a would-be daredevil.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Samberg cohort Akiva Schaffer directs a script from Trey Parker and Matt Stone writing partner Pam Brady. Isla Fisher (who proved her comedy chops in Wedding Crashers) co-stars with Will Arnett and Ian McShane.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With SNL on hiatus, who will pimp Hot Rod? $20mil.

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BRATZ

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The horror...the horror...

WILL IT SUCK?
I've gotta say, they've put together the right writer and director for this. The director helmed 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain and the writer did The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Oh, and the clothes were designed by Jeffrey Sebelia of Project Runway fame, so it's got that going for it.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This will pretty much own its demographic, with some straying towards Underdog because puppies are cute. $33mil.

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BECOMING JANE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Anne Hathaway IS Jane Austen.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is favorable, but not exactly gushing. Good supporting cast, with James McAvoy once again playing second fiddle to a famous historic figure (I can't wait for the scene where Jane Austen hangs him by his nipples) and Dame Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and James "I bet you thought I was British" Cromwell all on board.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Plenty of starpower in The Ten this week, but a completely different audience. $2mil.

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THE TEN

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The Ten Commandments via The State.

WILL IT SUCK?
Not as good as it should be. More here.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
There's nothing like it out there, but I don't know how strong The State following really is. $2mil.

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AUGUST 10
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STARDUST

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy finds fallen star (Claire Danes - no, not like that. I mean she isn't as popular now as she was when My So Called Life ended, but still). Fantasy adventure ensues.

WILL IT SUCK?
Hard to say. People love them some Neil Gaiman, and this is based on a graphic novel he co-wrote with Charles Vess. And Matthew Vaughan can direct the shit out of a film (Layer Cake). Still, the trailer looks cheesy as hell. Early buzz is good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I think it'll do better than people expect. With Harry Potter 5 nearly a month old at this point, we'll be due for some fresh fantasy. $76mil.

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SKINWALKERS

(Delayed from March, and then July)

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Kind of like Underworld without the vampires. Or 1/12 the budget.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the director of Jason X. Wait. Where are you going?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
About as well as Blood and Chocolate. Constant release delays don't bode well. $4mil.

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RUSH HOUR 3

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
An American Franchise in Paris

WILL IT SUCK?
One early review isn't favorable, aside from that, all we have to look at is Brett Ratner who, usually, I disdain, but for the purposes of a Rush Hour film is just right, and Jeff Nathanson who wrote 2, which I enjoyed. Also, sketchy, sketchy Roman Polanski as a French police chief. How much you want to bet that was Ratner's idea?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
There's a reason they paid Chris Tucker more than anybody ever to come back for this. $152mil.

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DADDY DAY CAMP

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Cuba Gooding Jr. replaces Eddie Murphy in this sequel to a movie that would have had a hard time justifying a sequel with Eddie Murphy.

WILL IT SUCK?
Here's a pretty good roundup of what happens when you do a sequel without your original star. But even with Eddie Murphy, a script from writers behind RV, The Shaggy Dog, Are We There Yet?, Clockstoppers, both Garfields, Cheaper by the Dozen oh, and Daddy Day Care probably isn't going to rock your socks. Directed by Fred Savage (yes, that Fred Savage) but I won't hold it against him.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even kids will have the good taste to watch Bratz instead. $9mil.

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ROCKET SCIENCE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Kid with a stutter joins the debate team.

WILL IT SUCK?
Director Jeffrey Blitz takes the same skill he brought to the documentary Spellbound and brings it to the world of narrative fiction. The results is one of the best films of the summer. Highly recommended. Read more.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs more buzz. $1mil.

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2 DAYS IN PARIS

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Before Sunset...Tomorrow

WILL IT SUCK?
Julie Delpy has actually written and directed before, in fact, she's an Academy-Award-nominated screenwriter (Before Sunset). Early buzz has it that she's knocked this one out of the park. I'm sure Adam Goldberg is fun, too, as her put-upon lover.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even fewer people know about this than Rocket Science. $500,000.

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AUGUST 17
--------------------------------

SUPERBAD

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Quest for Beer

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Seth Rogen co-wrote, and lest you think he's a scribe-come-lately, he used to write for Apatow's Undeclared. The director used to direct Undeclared. So if you liked Undeclared, you're probably in good company here. I've already heard more than one critic refer to this as the funniest movie of the summer, and perhaps the year.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
No real blockbusters left, so there's room for this to pull a Knocked Up. $65mil.

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THE INVASION

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
...of the Body Snatchers

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is bad and here, I suspect, is why. This was originally directed by Downfall and Das Experiment director Oliver Hirschbiegel. Warner Bros. didn't like his cut, so they gave it to the Wachowski Bros. who reshot the ending and eventually handed the whole thing over to their boy James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) who went on to redo, like, 2/3 of the flick. When that happens (see the Exorcist prequel) you usually end up with a mess.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nothing quite like it, and the one-two punch of Craig and Kidman will help. $63mil.

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THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Donkey Kong-Bound

WILL IT SUCK?
Ever seen a trailer for a film and just known that you have to see it right away? Early buzz is fantastic, and as much fun as watching two guys try to beat each other at Donkey Kong is in concept, I'm impressed to see that the execution is getting such renown.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With the right marketing (to geeks) this could do well. $4mil.

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DEATH AT A FUNERAL

(Delayed from June)

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Wacky goings-on at a funeral.

WILL IT SUCK?
Very funny. Alan Tudyk (of Firefly fame) in particular does a decent job. Full review here.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Medium. $2mil.

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THE 11TH HOUR

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
A Shitload of Inconvenient Truths

WILL IT SUCK?
It ain't getting Inconvenient Truth buzz, but people like it.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Having Leo DiCaprio host your enviro-fest won't help if nobody knows about it. $2mil.

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AUGUST 24
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WAR

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Jason Statham vs. Jet Li

WILL IT SUCK?
Is it bad that the only reason I'm really curious about this is Devon Aoki? I'm not inspired by the music video director or the newbie writers, but it is mildly interesting to see Li return to playing a heavy, which he did expertly in Lethal 4. From the trailer, though, you'd think Statham was the one who knew more kung fu. You'd also think that Li has simply given up speaking.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
People love them some Li. Even more people love them some Statham. $46mil.

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MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Title says it all.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is not so good. Rowan Atkinson is a funny motherfucker. Why do the Bean films appear to suck?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The last Bean movie made $250mil worldwide, $45mil of that was here. $30mil.

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ILLEGAL TENDER

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy goes to Puerto Rico to avenge something having to do with his family's secret past.

WILL IT SUCK?
Writer/Director Franc Reyes last flick was Empire, which didn't blow anyone away. Not too high hopes for this one, either.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It's a mistake to open against War. $7mil.

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THE NANNY DIARIES

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The Devil's Son Wears OshKosh B'Gosh

WILL IT SUCK?
Stranger than the Weinstein Bros. changing the release date every five minutes is the fact that, in a WTF move similar to Wayne Wang switching from Smoke to cheesy romantic comedies, this comes from the directors/adapters of American Splendor. And a trailer that makes the great Laura Linney look like a low-rent Meryl Streep does not bode well.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nice that this doesn't have much competition, but I think it'd be smarter to go indie and do a limited release to create buzz. $40mil.

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RESURRECTING THE CHAMP

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
A writer (Josh Hartnett) finds a homeless man (Sam Jackson) who claims to be a former championship boxer.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz on this is really, really good. Director Rod Lurie also directed The Contender. I just think that's funny. Keep an eye out for his next flick, "loosely based" on the Valerie Plame affair.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Again, they shoulda gone limited release. $8mil.

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SEPTEMBER DAWN

(Delayed from May, and then June)

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Fictionalized account of the Mountain Meadows massacre.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the director of Gone Fishin' and The Next Karate Kid (and no, Young Guns does not make up for those). Those of you wondering what happened to Dean Cain, here you go.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
People are a little more curious about Mormons now than, say, before the Presidential campaigns started, but this will still do better on DVD. $500,000.

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DEDICATION

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Words and Illustrations

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is generally good, giving actor Justin Theroux credit for a decent first-time job directing Billy Crudup and Mandy Moore as the bickering writer and illustrator, respectively. Tom Wilkinson, Dianne Weist, Bob Balaban, Bobby Cannavale, Martin Freeman, Amy Sedaris, Christine Tayler and Peter Bogdonavich round out the cast.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs a much bigger push from the Weinsteins. $2mil.

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THE HOTTEST STATE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Boy finds musician. Boy loses musician. Boy goes after musician.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is not so great. Didn't get much love at Venice. And if the thought of Ethan Hawke adapting and directing his own novel (and getting a supporting role, too, natch) seems a bit much, just remember he was totally bad-ass on Alias that one time. Side note: I find it interesting that both Ethan Hawke and July Delpy have movies they wrote coming out this month.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even fewer people know about this than Dedication. $500,000.

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AUGUST 31
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HALLOWEEN

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Rob Zombie remakes the indie horror classic.

WILL IT SUCK?
Although the footage screened at Comic Con underwhelmed (at least the Cinematical guy), other buzz has this as a very accomplished work by Zombie, who wowed critics with The Devil's Rejects in 2005. Great casting: Malcom McDowell as Dr. Loomis, Brad Douriff as the Sheriff, Zombie's wife Sheri Moon plays Michael's mom, Tyler Mane (that's Sabretooth to you) plays Michael, and Udo Kier, Danny Trejo, Daryl Sabara, Dee Wallace, Adrienne Barbeau, Sybil Danning, Micky Dolenz and Clint Fucking Howard are all up in here, too. Scout Taylor-Compton, who is starring in another horror remake (April Fool's Day), steps into Jamie Lee Curtis' shoes.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
People are psyched for this shit. $50mil.

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BALLS OF FURY

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Enter the world of underground ping-pong.

WILL IT SUCK?
As funny as The State is (and as funny as I'm told Reno 911! is) when these guys write movies, it just doesn't work (The Pacifier, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Let's Go to Jail). So I'm not all that psyched for this one - in spite of Christopher Walken in a goofy outfit.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A little distance from Superbad probably doesn't hurt. $29mil.

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DEATH SENTENCE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Death Wish, Bacon-style

WILL IT SUCK?
From Saw director James Wan and based on the same novel as the original Death Wish so, yeah, it's deep. Sadly, the only other stars besides Kevin Bacon are John Goodman and Aisha Tyler, so this won't do much for six degrees.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nobody's been waiting for a Death Wish remake. $17mil.

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LADRON QUE ROBA A LADRON

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Latino heist flick.

WILL IT SUCK?
Not much is known about this movie except that the director has done a lot of telenovelas, none of which have gotten much love on IMDB.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
As I said, not much is known, which means the film itself is probably not known. On the other hand, chances are I'm not watching any of the markets where they're advertising this, and the "little seen" La Mujer de mi Hermano made some serious green. $2mil.

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THE NINES

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The long-awaited (by John HOW WELL WILL IT DO?fans, anyway) indie about overlapping lives.

WILL IT SUCK?
The term "metaphysical" comes up a lot in reviews for Go, Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory writer John August's directorial debut. The sentiment "really fucking good" comes up a lot, too. Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy play three roles each, if that gives you a taste of the trippiness.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Aside from a few die-hard HOW WELL WILL IT DO?fans, I don't know that anybody knows about this. $1mil.

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EXILED

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Johnnie To gangster flick.

WILL IT SUCK?
IMDB'ers consider it to be To's best, while critics are a little more split.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Johnny To is not a name yet in the States. $250,000.

Next Month: Is that Wes Anderson's music I hear playing?