Paramount's "Thor" is expected to again thunder through North American theaters this weekend, collecting a leading gross of nearly $30 million and by Sunday night amassing a two-week domestic total of $100 million and global receipts approaching $300 million.
The Marvel Comics super hero faces two very different newcomers: Sony's action-packed "Priest" in 3-D and the R-rated fun of Universal's "Bridesmaids."
R-rated comedies do well in the summer and the debuting "Bridesmaids" should catch a box office bouquet in the low teens, yet could also break out with a bigger-than-expected gross. The Judd Apatow-produced comedy features an ensemble cast, including SNL alums Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, and ups the ante with its raunchy, female-driven humor.
"Priest" has a similar shot at the low teens, appealing to fanboys and horror fans alike. Based on the graphic novel, the PG-13 film stars Paul Bettany as a take-no-prisoners man of the cloth who goes after the vampires who kidnapped his niece.
Universal's pre-summer juggernaut "Fast Five" will rev up an expected third-weekend tally of between $12 million and $14 million. Domestic receipts of more than $85 million in its opening weekend proved the enduring appeal of the franchise, while dominance of the global box office continues to impress with over $320 million in worldwide receipts.
Sony's wedding-themed ensemble comedy "Jumping the Broom" jumped way over expectations o