Box Office Preview: Buddy-cop parody ‘The Other Guys’ set to shove ‘Inception’ from No. 1

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Box Office Preview: ‘Other Guys’ set to take over

LOS ANGELES — It looks like Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are set to take over the top spot at the nation’s theaters as Sony’s “The Other Guys” prepares to assault the weekend.

A terrific marketing campaign, a great action-comedy premise, and solid reviews give this film the makings of an early August hit. Ferrell’s average wide release debut is $24.2 million and Wahlberg’s is $20.2 million. Therefore an opening in the $25 million plus range would position it as the film to beat this weekend.

Chris Nolan’s “Inception” has enjoyed pretty much total domination of the marketplace since its debut on July 16, logging continued weekend and midweek success. With a second weekend drop of just 32 percent and a third weekend drop of a mere 36 percent, the film has already crossed the $200 million mark and become part of the national discussion. It’s also a favorite film of the social networking universe. Another drop in the mid-30 percent range would put the mind-bending film in the second spot at just under $20 million for the weekend.

Disney’s debuting “Step Up 3D” follows the very capable dance moves of 2006’s “Step Up,” which opened with $20.7 million, and 2008’s “Step Up 2 the Streets,” which opened with $18.9 million. The 3-D component could give it a bit of a revenue boost, but likely it will land in the third spot with upward of $15 million as a decidedly younger demographic looks to just have a good time at the multiplex.

The battle for the fourth and fifth spots will be tight as Sony’s “Salt” and Paramount’s “Dinner for Schmucks” will likely land in the low $10 million range, with Universal’s “Despicable Me” hot on their heels with a gross approaching $10 million.

Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com. and has been providing box office information to The Associated Press for nearly two decades.

Online: www.Hollywood.com/boxoffice