WILL PIRATES CAPTURE BIG BOOTY AGAIN?

Studios and theater owners alike are hoping that Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will bring clear sailing back to the industry, which has been struggling at the box office during most of the year. Some analysts are forecasting that the Disney movie could become the first release of the year to crack the $100-million mark on its opening weekend. The previous two sequels had no problem doing so. Dead Man’s Chest took in $135.6 million over its first weekend, while At World’s End grossed $114.7 million. However, At World’s End faded relatively quickly on mediocre word-of-mouth, and the latest installment might do the same, according to some industry analysts. One thing going for it: no other new movies opening wide this weekend. Its closest competitor will be the second weekend of Bridesmaids, which opened well above expectations last weekend and has shown surprising strength at the box office midweek. In limited release, Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris is likely to pack theaters in New York and Los Angeles, the only two cities where it is being screened. It is receiving some of Allen’s best notices in years.