'Chronicle,' 'Big Miracle,' The Woman In Black' And 'W.E.': New Releases For Feb. 3

Super Bowl weekend means only one thing: football! movies? That's at least what Hollywood hopes, as three wide-release genre films hit theaters during the first weekend in February, each with a specific audience. Which will survive against Super Bowl XLVI? Let's find out! NATIONWIDE RELEASES "Chronicle" What's the story: Three high school friends acquire superpowers and must deal with the great power and responsibility that come with them. Needless to say, things don't go very well. Box office projection: Found footage is all the rage nowadays, though "Chronicle" is the first to tackle the superhero genre. Buoyed by strong pre-release buzz (Patton Oswalt is a fan), the film could be a surprise hit over the weekend, though its core audience might skip out on Sunday screenings to watch the Super Bowl. Still: $18.1 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] "The Woman In Black" What's the story: A young lawyer (Daniel Radcliffe) travels to a remote English village and encounters an unhappy ghost -- the titular woman in black. Box office projection: For the first time since becoming Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe is expected to lead a movie to box-office glory. Can he make "The Woman In Black" No. 1? Well, probably not. For starters, the moody thriller doesn't seem to be on many radars; for another, until Radcliffe proves he's a box-office force, post-"Potter," his solo drawing power is suspect. Still, don't expect this to be a total washout. $13.3 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] "Big Miracle" What's the story: Based on a true story, "Big Miracle" recalls the media firestorm that happened when three grey whales became trapped in the arctic waters outside Barrow, Alaska in 1988. Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell and Ted Danson co-star. Box office projection: A family film that is wisely keeping its 80s-era script under wraps in the marketing campaign, "Big Miracle" should be a strong choice for parents with kids over 10 -- though it feels like a tweener. Too serious to make an impact for the real little ones, too earnest for the teens who want to see "Chronicle" or "The Woman In Black." Plus, stars Barrymore and Krasinski aren't necessarily box-office guarantees. All told, this charming story might get swamped under. $5.6 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] LIMITED RELEASES After a platform release at the end of 2011, Madonna's new film, "W.E." gets released. Also out in expanded limited release, "The Artist" grows to over 1,000 screens for the first time.

Source: http://news.moviefone.com/2012/02/02/chronicle-big-miracle-the-woman-in-black-we_n_1251054.html

Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard