Sept. 18--Twentieth Century Fox's "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is expected to ignite the September box office with a strong domestic opening of about $34 million.
That haul would put the film ahead of two other new offerings, "Black Mass" and "Captive," according to people familiar with pre-release audience surveys.
Based on the bestselling books by James Dashner, "The Maze Runner" series follows Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), who is deposited into a community of young men in a post-apocalyptic world. The sequel takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles.
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The film, which cost about $61 million to make, will likely make more than the $32.5-million opening weekend of the first installment last year. Overseas, it launched with $26.7 million last weekend.
Adaptations of young-adult books, such as the "Hunger Games" and "Divergent" series, tend to attract largely young adult moviegoers. An estimated 65% of the opening weekend audience for the first "Maze Runner" film was younger than 25.
O'Brien, known for his role as the best friend to Tyler Posey's character in MTV's "Teen Wolf" series, is also a draw among young fans. With more than 3 million followers on Twitter, he has become known as one of Hollywood's young heartthrobs.
Meanwhile,"Black Mass," which cost about $53 million to make, is looking at an opening of about $20 million from about 3,188 theaters.
The film, which follows the rise of notorious South Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger, is based on the nonfiction book "Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob" by former Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.
Positive reviews could propel the film to higher grosses, with Johnny Depp being lauded for his role as the notorious mob leader. The film co-stars Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Paramount Pictures' "Captive," which cost just $2 million to film, will likely debut with between $2 million to $5 million in about 800 locations.
The faith-based film, which stars David Oyelowo and Kate Mara, is based on Ashley Smith's book "Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story Of The Atlanta Hostage Hero."
Faith-based films have become large draws for religious moviegoers. Most recently, "War Room," a Sony Pictures Entertainment release, pushed three-time box office champion "Straight Outta Compton" out of the top spot.
Also in theaters, Universal Pictures will release "Everest" in 546 North American theaters. The epic adventure film stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal.
MORE:
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Movie true-life heroes and villains include Whitey Bulger and Dalton Trumbo
UPDATES
5:52 p.m.: This article was updated to add that "Everest" will be released in 546 North American theaters this weekend.
The first version of this article was published at 4:08 p.m.
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