Box-office predictions: ‘Novocaine’ aiming to shoot down ‘Mickey 17’ with $10 million+ debut

What will be the winners and the losers this week at the U.S. box office? Four new movies enter theaters this weekend led by Novocaine, Paramount's comedy-thriller from directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. They will be facing off against the current top five money-makers: Mickey 17, Captain America: Brave New World, Last Breath, The Monkey, and Paddington in Peru.

Gold Derby readers predict that Mickey 17 will win the March 14-16 weekend with less than $25 million domestically. Novocaine is the runner-up choice of our odds-makers. Do you agree or disagree with those rankings? Make your predictions right now — it's fun and easy! Join the box-office discussion in our forums.

NEW RELEASES

Novocaine
Director: Dan Berk and Robert Olsen
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, a man incapable of feeling physical pain turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her. The action-comedy starring Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, and Ray Nicholson has a running time of one hour, 50 minutes, and is rated R. Reviews compiled by Metacritic show a "mixed" response with an overall score of 59 percent.

Black Bag
Director: Stephen Soderbergh
Distributor: Focus Features
When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband - also a legendary agent - faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country. The dramatic thriller starring Michael Fassbender, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Cate Blanchett has a running time of one hour, 33 minutes, and is rated R. Reviews compiled by Metacritic show "universal acclaim" with an overall score of 85 percent.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
Director: Peter Browngardt
Distributor: Ketchup Entertainment
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are Earth's only hope when facing the threat of alien invasion. The animated comedy featuring the voices of Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, and Peter MacNicol has a running time of one hour, 31 minutes, and is rated PG. Reviews compiled by Metacritic show a "generally favorable" response with an overall score of 69 percent.

Opus
Director: Mark Anthony Green
Distributor: A24
A writer travels to the compound of a pop icon who disappeared years ago. Surrounded by his cult of sycophants, as well as a group of fellow journalists, she soon discovers his twisted plans for the gathering. The drama, starring Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, and Juliette Lewis, has a running time of one hour, 43 minutes, and is rated R. Reviews compiled by Metacritic show a "mixed" response with an overall score of 42 percent.

BOX-OFFICE PREDICTIONS

Novocaine is projected to come out on top in its debut week, tracking north of $10 million at the weekend box office. The action-comedy from Paramount cost just $18 million to make — which should put it in the black after just a few weeks of release. Right on its heels is Mickey 17 in second place. Bong Joon Ho's follow-up to his Oscar winner, Parasite, is expected to tumble between 55 percent and 60 percent from its $19 million debut last week. With a hefty amount of international support, the sci-fi comedy starring Robert Pattinson has grossed $50 million worldwide — still way off its $180 million price tag.

Disney’s Marvel sequel Captain America: Brave New World will add $5 million to its box-office tally — good enough for third. Despite making nearly $185 million, the superhero movie starring Anthony Mackie is one of the lowest-grossing MCU movies of all time. This weekend's other new releases aren't expected to pack a punch — with Blag Bag and Opus projected to take in $7 million and $2 million, respectively. Likely to squeak out the final spot in this weekend's top five is Sony's Paddington in Peru, which should hold steady with about $2.5 million.

Here are Gold Derby's current box-office rankings for the top five:

1. Novocaine

2. Mickey 17

3. Black Bag

4. Captain America: Brave New World

5. Paddington in Peru

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