Can Money Monster Defeat Civil War at the Box Office?

As many expected, the firstMarvel Phase 3adventureCaptain America: Civil Warkicked off the summer movie season last weekend in a huge way, raking in $179.1 million. This was down slightly from the Sunday estimate of $181.7 million, but was still a landslide victory at thebox office. The opening weekend was the third best in MCU history, behindAvengers: Age of Ultron($191.2 million) andThe Avengers($207.4 million). The superhero adventure looks to continue its dominance this weekend, and, most likely, throughout May, at least untilX-Men: Apocalypsearrives on May 27. This weekend, Cap squares off against two newcomers, Sony’s financial thrillerMoney Monsterand High Top Releasing’s horror-thrillerThe Darkness, but neither should come close to catching Cap and the rest of the Avengers.

Box Office Mojoreveals thatMoney Monsteris slated to debut in approximately 3,000 theaters, withThe Darknessarriving on roughly 1,500 screens. Both of those theater counts pale in comparison toMarvel’s Civil War’s 4,226 debut rollout last weekend, and even the 4,144 theater count for another Disney hit,The Jungle Book, which has taken in $287.6 million to date. Neither of these new releases have Rotten Tomatoes scores available yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how the critics respond. ButCaptain America 3will still be the runaway winner, with a predicted $89.7 million in its second weekend.

Captain: America: Civil Waris already a huge hit internationally as well, pulling in $512.8 million in foreign markets for a worldwide tally of $691.9 million, with the superhero adventure expected to cross $700 million later today. The movie opened early in 37 international markets in the last weekend in April, taking in just over $200 million, and another $220 million internationally in its second frame. Last weekend’s international numbers include a whopping $95.8 million in China alone, the second highest total for a Hollywood movie’s debut in China behindTransformers: Age of Extinction.

Steve Rogers leads a newly formed team ofAvengersin their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. The action is set in the aftermath ofAvengers: Age of Ultron. Following another incident involving the Avengers that results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps, one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. The movie introduces to new members to the Marvel family with Black Panther andSpider-Man.

Money Monsteris expected to come in a distant second place with $21.8 million this weekend. In this real-time, high stakes thrillerGeorge ClooneyandJulia Robertsstar as financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer Patty, who are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor who has lost everything (Jack O’Connell) forcefully takes over their studio. During a tense standoff broadcast to millions on live TV, Lee and Patty must work furiously against the clock to unravel the mystery behind a conspiracy at the heart of today’s fast-paced, high-tech global markets.Jodie Fosterdirects this thriller, with a supporting cast that includesCaitriona Balfe,Dominic West,Giancarlo EspositoandEmily Meade. The top five will be rounded out byThe Jungle Book($12.4 million),Mother’s Day($4.3 million) and newcomerThe Darkness($3.2 million).

The Darknessis the latest from the director of the cult classic,Wolf Creek,Greg McLean. This supernatural thriller follows a family who returns home from vacation at the Grand Canyon. They innocently bring home a supernatural force that preys off their own fears and vulnerabilities, threatening to destroy them from within, while consuming their lives with terrifying consequences.Kevin BaconandJennifer Morrisonstar as the parents, with a supporting cast that includesMing-Na Wen,Radha Mitchell,David Mazouz,Tara Lynne Barr,Paul ReiseratMatt Walsh.

Rounding out the top 10 will beThe Huntsman: Winter’s War($2.4 million),Keanu($1.9 million),Barbershop: The Next Cut($1.7 million),Zootopia($1.3 million) andThe Boss($1.1 million). With the bottom half of the top 10 separated by just over $1 million, these positions could change quite a bit, but we’ll have to wait and see. Also opening in limited release this weekend are a number of heralded indie films, such as Magnolia’sHigh-Rise, Well Go USA’sKill Zone 2, Broad Green Pictures’Last Days in the Desert, A24’sThe Lobster, Roadside Attractions’Love & Friendship, Focus World’sSearch Partyand Magnolia’sSunset Song. It isn’t known if there are expansion plans for any of these movies at this time.

Looking ahead to next weekend,Civil Warwill face its biggest threat yet, going up against three high-profile new releases, Sony Pictures Animation’sThe Angry Birds Movie, Universal’s comedy sequelNeighbors 2: Sorority Risingand Warner Bros. period crime comedyThe Nice Guys. Also opening in limited release next weekend are Sony Pictures Classics’Maggie’s Plan, CJ Entertainment’sPhantom Detective, FUNimation Films’Project Itoh - Harmony, Oscilloscope Pictures' dramaMa maand IFC’s documentaryWeiner. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, and again on Tuesday for next week’s predictions. Until then, take a look at our predictions for the weekend of May 13.