Hugh Jackman is back as everyone’s favorite mutant in 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men” spin-off “The Wolverine,” and the film easily topped the box office in its first weekend of release. While it succeeded in putting an end to the recent streak of big-budget flops (including “White House Down,” “The Lone Ranger” and “R.I.P.D.”), it nonetheless won’t reach the same heights as its critically maligned predecessor, 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Are audiences sick of sequels, reboots and spin-offs?
As for the rest of this week’s list…
July 31, 2013
1. “The Wolverine” (Last week: Not ranked)
How will “X-Men: Days of Future Past” play when it opens next summer?
2. Toronto Film Festival (Last week: Not ranked)
The lineup for this year’s fest has been announced, and will include Bill Condon”s Julian Assange biopic “The Fifth Estate,” Alfonso Cuaron”s “Gravity,” Steve McQueen”s “12 Years a Slave”, “Mandela: Long Road to Freedom,” and “August: Osage County.” Will any or all of these films earn a place in Oscar history?
3. “The Hobbit” Trilogy (Last week: Not ranked)
That’s a wrap. “Desolation of Smaug” hits screen this December, with “There and Back Again” following in 2014.
4. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Last week: No. 5)
Here are five things we learned about the anticipated sequel starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson.
5. “Blue Jasmine” (Last week: Not ranked)
Woody Allen isn’t normally associated with big box office, but his latest — opening in just six theaters — grossed $102,000 per screen, setting a 2013 record. It also breaks his 2011 record for “Midnight in Paris.”
6. “Cold Comes the Night” (Last week: Not ranked)
“Breaking Bad’s” Bryan Cranston will continue being bad in this upcoming noir co-starring Alice Eve.
7. “Captain Phillips” (Last week: Not ranked)
Will Tom Hanks hijack another Oscar? We’ll see how good his chances are when the film premieres at the New York Film Festival on September 27, a couple of weeks before its October 11 release.
8. “Beverly Hills Cop 4” (Last week: Not ranked)
It’s on. Eddie Murphy’s in. We’re not gonna fall for the banana in the tailpipe.
9. “Star Wars: Episode VII” (Last week: Not ranked)
Nuh Nuh Nuh NA nuh-NAH NA nu-NAAH. That was the “Imperial March” theme by John Williams. You’ll probably be hearing it again when the Oscar magnet returns to score “Episode VII.”
10. “Despicable Me 2” (Last week: Not ranked)
Heroes and villains alike make bank. After “Iron Man 3” was the 2013 first film to cross the $300 million mark at the box office, it”s appropriate that the second film to do so this year stars a supervillain.
Check out the previous edition here. What do you think of this week’s rankings? Share your thoughts below. Or tweet your thoughts with the hashtag #moviepowerrankings and tell us who you want to see in next week’s edition.