'Puss in Boots' likely to pounce on B.O.

"Puss in Boots" opens day and date within the U.S. and Russia. The household market, underserved previously five days, could bring large Halloween-weekend B.O. for Vital-DreamWorks Animation's three dimensional toon "Puss in Boots." Precisely how large the take is will rely on if the film can extend its pawprint to auds beyond parents and tykes. Componen needs a bow for "Puss" around the mid-$30 millions, though other B.O. commentators the film could achieve somewhere north of $40 million. Also bowing wide, twentieth century Fox's high-concept actioner "Over TimeInch opens at 3,122 locations, while R-ranked The Actor-brad Pitt starrer "The Rum Diary" launches today at 2,272 Stateside engagements via FilmDistrict. Pre-weekend monitoring indicates "Over Time,Inch called for any $12 million-$15 million opening, comes with an edge over "Diary," which likely will settle at between $8 million and $11 million through Sunday. The new sony might find how effective its scaly-back release plans for Roland Emmerich's "Anonymous," which launches at 265 locations, turn to be. The studio made the decision early a week ago to bow the film in limited release rather than taking a wide rollout. Overseas B.O. will looks to become centered by "The Adventures of Tintin: The Key from the Unicorn," following Vital and Sony's early launch from the film abroad (see separate story). Componen is starting "Puss" day-and-date using the U.S. in Russia, where three dimensional characters, specially the "Shrek" franchise, have shipped large box office. The "Shrek" spinoff, allocated at $130 million, must have considerable Stateside success. The film is poised to exceed previous Halloween weekend record holder "Saw III," which bowed in 2006 with $33.six million locally. Though Halloween usually is not a really large weekend in the box office, the vacation falls on the Monday this season, clearing up trick-or-treaters to go to plexes, though pre-Halloweeen activities will still occupy families. A five-week drought of fresh family fare also bodes well for "Puss." The final family film to bow within the U.S., "Dolphin Tale," opened up to $19.two million, exactly the same weekend as Disney's three dimensional retrofit of "The Lion King," which won in the second outing with $21.9 million. That pic far exceeded industry anticipation throughout its debut frame, scoring north of $$ 30 million and gathering almost $93 million up to now. Both "Lion King" and "Dolphin Tale," having a cume of $sixty five million, achieved positive results from deficiencies in family product on the market, as did DreamWorks' "Real Steel," that has drawn in nearly $70 million since its March. 7 bow. It's unclear just how much three dimensional tests will boost overall totals for "Puss," starting at 2,827 three dimensional locations, or 72% of their total 3,952 engagements. "Lion King" gained 91% of their opening from three dimensional, though that pic was promoted like a three dimensional event. "Puss" likely will discover a similar or slightly better opening three dimensional share as "Dolphin Tale's" 50%. Mostly positive early reviews may help the DWA toon broaden to adult auds. Fox's "Over Time,Inch allocated around $40 million, has most powerful interest among older males over 25, with a lot more support from both males and ladies under 25. From author-director Andrew Niccol, "Over Time,Inch starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, informs the storyline of the near-advanced society where its people don't age past 25. Pic will need to compete for teenage auds with Par's soph-sesh holdover "Paranormal Activity 3," which bowed above anticipation at $52 million. "Rum Diary," which FilmDistrict acquired privileges to last spring, cost you a reported $45 million, created by GK Films. According to Hunter S. Thompson's semi-autobiographical novel, "Diary" should attract fans of Depp in addition to visitors from the late renegade journalist. FilmDistrict pre-tested "Diary" strongly attending college cities, including Austin, Texas, and Berkeley, Calif. In limited release, Componen is starting Sundance's grand jury champion "ConstantlyInch through the studio's Componen Vantage label. Pic opens today at four locations in NY and L.A., having a soph-sesh expansion in to the top ten U.S. marketplaces. Fox Searchlight, meanwhile, grows "Martha Marcy May Marlene" to 32 locations following a effective launch last weekend. Wall Street-designed thriller "Margin Call," from Kerbside Points of interest, is broadening to 140 playdates, a lot more than double the amount pic's opening count. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com