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.  In case you’ve been dwelling under a rock, this weekend brings the biggest film of 2017: Star Wars Episode VIII and a sacrificial lamb….bull.

Today’s a huge day for Disney.  Star Wars Episode VIII is opening in theaters, and will undoubtedly become the biggest grossing film of 2017.  It has the best critical reviews of any film in the saga since The Empire Strikes Back, and is poised to keep the House of Walt atop the box office until sometime in early 2018.  That wasn’t enough though, today Disney bought virtually all of FOX (except the “news” division).  The implications of that for the Star Wars franchise and especially for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which will now have the X-Men and Fantastic Four characters at their disposal is mind-blowing.  Not to mention Disney now owns two of the five broadcast networks (already owning ABC).  They already were massive, but this deal makes them undoubtedly the biggest media company in the world.  So it’s weirdly fitting that FOX is the one who decided to open a movie against The Last Jedi.

FOX’s Ferdinand is based on, wait for it, a Disney animated short film that won the Oscar in 1938 for Best Short Film.  This feature length version, featuring the voices of the WWE’s John Cena and SNL’s Kate McKinnon is getting good reviews, sitting at 82%, but if your kids are old enough to take to Ferdinand….odds are they’re going to want to see Star Wars.

Ferdinand (John Cena, Kate McKinnon, PG, 1hr 47min)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, PG-13, 2hr 32min)

How Did We Do Last Week? KT ran an abbreviated column last week picking the one-two punch of Coco and Justice League to remain in place for another week, and they did not disappoint.  Coco celebrated its third week atop the box office with another $18.4 million to Justice League’s $9.7 million.  With two weekends left in 2017, we’re sitting at a 90% prediction record!
(2017 Prediction Record: 45-5; Lifetime prediction record 83-10).

WHO WILL WIN THE WEEKEND?
Gosh……toughie.  The only question with The Last Jedi is how much money it will make in its opening weekend and how many weekends it will remain on top.  The forecasts have it making somewhere between $195-225 million domestic alone this weekend, and I think it’s probably a safe bet to remain atop the box office for at least three weeks.