Will Don't Breathe Strangle Morgan at the Labor Day Box Office?

The Labor Day holiday traditionally marks the end of the summer movie season, and the end of hugebox office grosses. Last weekend, the horror-thrillerDon’t Breathemanaged to endSuicide Squad’s three-week reign atop the box office with $26.4 million, and this weekend it will face two newcomers, 20th Century Fox’s thrillerMorganand DreamWorks and Touchstone’s dramaThe Light Between the Oceans, with the true story dramaSouthside With Youalso expanding. Still, we’re predicting thatDon’t Breathewill win for a second weekend in a row, in what has always been a typically low-grossing frame.

WhileDon’t Breathedidn’t put up staggering numbers last weekend, it will still be playing in over 1,000 more theaters than its competitors.Box Office Mojoreports thatMorganwill be released in approximately 2,000 theaters, whileThe Light Between the Oceansis expected to debut in 1,500 theaters.Southside With Youis also expected to expand into roughly 1,500 theaters, from its 813-theater debut. We’re predicting thatDon’t Breathewill still come out on top with $14.4 million, withMorgandebuting in second place with $13.6 million andThe Light Between the Oceansfollowing in third place with $10.8 million. The top 5 will most likely be rounded out bySuicide Squad($7.4 million) andKubo and the Two Strings($5.2 million).

Last year,Straight Outta Comptonwon over the Labor Day Weekend with $13.1 million, capturing its third straight box office crown, just barely beating out the faith-based dramaWar Room. The Labor Day weekend has traditionally been a low-grossing affair, with the all-time record held byRob Zombie’sHalloweenremake, which took in $30.7 million back in 2007. Barring some sort of box office miracle, that record will most certainly remain intact. As of now, thehorror thriller,Morgan, has only earned a paltry 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while there aren’t enough reviews posted forThe Light Between the Oceansyet.

Morganis about a corporate risk-management consultant who has to decide and determine whether or not to terminate an artificial being’s life that was made in a laboratory environment.Anya Taylor-Joy, who had a breakout performance in this year’s horror-thrillerThe Witch, is playing this artificial being dubbed Morgan, withKate Mara,Rose Leslie,Paul GiamattiandBoyd Holbrookrounding out the cast in unspecified roles.Luke Scott, the son of directorRidley Scott, directsMorganfrom a script he co-wrote withSeth W. Owen.

The Light Between the Oceanscenters on a young couple who must make the toughest decision of their lives. After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel (Alicia Vikander). Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

The top 10 will be rounded out bySausage Party($7.6 million),Mechanic: Resurrection($4.1 million),Pete’s Dragon($4 million),War Dogs($3.7 million) andBad Moms($3.2 million). Also opening in limited release isKevin Smith’sYoga Hosers, the second installment of his True North Trilogy, Drafthouse’s comedy sequelKlown Forever, Paladin’sMax Rose, FilmRise’sWhite Girl, Lionsgate’sNo Manches Fridaand FIP’sNaam Hai Akira.No Manches Fridais expected to open in 350 theaters, whileNaam Hai Akirais expected to open in 70 theaters.

Looking ahead to next weekend, four wildly different movies hit theaters to compete for the box office crown. Warner Bros. will roll out the true story dramaSully, starringTom Hanks, Relativity debutsThe Disappointments RoomstarringKate Beckinsale, Sony debutsWhen The Bough BreaksstarringMorris ChestnutandRegina Halland Lionsgate brings the animated adventureThe Wild Lifeto theaters. Also opening in limited release is Magnolia’s documentaryAuthor: The JT LeRoy Story, Focus World’s dramaKicks, Janus Films' documentaryCameraperson, Cohen Media Group’s dramaCome What May, The Orchard’s horror-thrillerDemonand IFC’s documentaryDancer. Check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, but until then, take a look at our projected top 10 for the Labor Day weekend.