Each Thursday we look at what is going to be coming out in theaters this weekend, show you the trailers for the big releases, predict the box office winner and just generally give you enough of a carrot to pull you through the rest of the work week.  February 10th is considered Valentine’s Day weekend, so I suppose that’s the logic for releasing what will most likely be the three films that dominate the rest of the month all in one weekend.

This weekend is the polar opposite of last weekend’s dearth of new material as three high-profile sequels/spin-offs hit theaters.  After stealing The LEGO Movie, Will Arnett’s Batman demanded his own movie and the results look awesome.  Sitting at 92% at the time of writing on Rotten Tomatoes, LEGO Batman is getting reviews I doubt we’ll ever see from our current live-action Batman.  Also receiving high praise (88% currently) is the sequel to the cult action hit, John Wick.  Resurrecting Keanu Reeves’ career, the hitman is back in Chapter 2.  Also rearing its weird, kinda porny head again is the 50 Shades….thing.  Despite horrible reviews the first movie was a box office success, and in that tradition, perhaps the fact that it is currently sitting at 8% won’t discourage the people who are going to pay for what the Internet is 90% filled with (and likely some with better scripts).

50 Shades Darker (Dakota Johnson, R, 1hr 55min)

John Wick Chapter 2 (Keanu Reeves, R, 2hr 2min)

The LEGO Batman Movie (Will Arnett, PG, 1hr 30 min)

HOW DID WE DO LAST WEEK?
KT pick and M. Night Shaymalan’s comeback film, Split, edged out Rings in a Super Bowl box office weekend showdown.  Split three-peated with $14.5 million to Rings $13.1 million.
(2017 Prediction Record: 4-2; Lifetime prediction record 42-7).

WHO WILL WIN THE WEEKEND?
Split’s time atop the box office is finished, and the film should fall to #4 behind all three opening films.  With the 50 Shades phenomenon having lost a lot of steam (ha ha) with more distance from the books and the horrible reviews of the first film and sequel, don’t look for 50 Shades Darker to get anywhere near Grey’s opening of $85 million.  That’s a much more realistic figure for The LEGO Batman Movie, which is probably the best Batman film we’re going to get for a long, long time.