Can Ben-Hur Beat Suicide Squad at the Box Office?

Last weekend, Warner Bros.‘Suicide Squadmanaged to win the top slot at the box office for a second time in a row with $43.5 million, despite a massive second-weekend drop of 67.4%. This Friday, it goes up against three wildly different movies, the epic remakeBen-Hur, the animated adventureKubo and the Two Stringsand the true story adaptationWar Dogs. Regardless of who actually comes out on top, it’s shaping up to be a rather close run, but we thinkBen-Hurwill winthis roundwith $19.6 million, proof that the summer season is indeed coming to a close.

Suicide Squad’s $133.6 million made it the fourth-highest opening of the year. The debut falls below Marvel’sCaptain America: Civil War($179.1 million), Warner Bros./DC’sBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice($166 million) and Disney Pixar’sFinding Dory($135 million). Disney Pixar’sFinding Doryis still the highest-grossing domestic release this year so far, with $473.8 million, and the R-ratedDeadpoollands in the fifth highest debut spot with $132.4 million. According toBox Office Mojo,Suicide Squad’s domestic total is at $222.6 million, from a $175 million budget.

As of now, there aren’t enough reviews to warrant a TomatoMeter score forWar DogsorBen-Hur, butKubo and the Two Stringsis already a huge hit with critics, with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, positive reviews haven’t lead to big box office success in the past with Laika films.Coralinehas an impressive 90% score on RT, but it only opened with $16.8 million and finished with $75.2 million.ParaNorman(87%, $14 million, $56 million) andThe Boxtrolls(75%, $17.2 million, $50.8 million) had similar results, and we think this new animated movie will open in fifth place with $16.1 million, behindSuicide Squadin second place with $18.1 million andWar Dogsin third with 17.4 million andSausage Partyin fourth with $16.9 million.

Ben-Huris the epic story ofJudah Ben-Hur(Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based onLew Wallace’s timeless novel,Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the remake also starsMorgan FreemanandRodrigo Santoro.

War Dogsfollows two friends in their early 20s (Jonah HillandMiles Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they land a 300 million dollar deal to arm the Afghan Military-a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the U.S. Government. The film also starsAna de Armas(Knock Knock) and four-time Oscar nomineeBradley Cooper(American Sniper,American Hustle,Silver Linings Playbook).

Kubo and the Two Stringsis an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced byArt ParkinsonofGame of Thrones) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Akihiro (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and Kameyo (Academy Award nomineeBrenda Vaccaro). But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award winnerCharlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winnerMatthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen - a magical musical instrument - Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Academy Award nomineeRalph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nomineeRooney Mara), to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family, and fulfill his heroic destiny.

The top 10 is rounded out byPete’s Dragon($12.6 million),Jason Bourne($8.2 million),Bad Moms($7.6 million),The Secret Life of Pets($4.8 million) andStar Trek Beyond($3.4 million). Also debuting in limited release is Independent’sKingsglaive: Final Fantasy: XV, Distrib Films’Down By LoveandThe Student and Mr. Henri, Magnolia’sLo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World, Music Box Films’Mia Madre, A24’sMorris From America, Cohen Media Group’sThe People Vs. Fritz Bauerand Strand’sSpa Night. We don’t know for sure if any of these films will be expanding in the weeks and months to come.

Looking ahead to next weekend, three more movies will bring the summer movie season to a close. Sony’s thrillerDon’t Breathewill open in wide release, alongside Lionsgate’s action sequelMechanic: Resurrectionand The Weinstein Company’s boxing biopicHands of Stone. Also opening in limited release is Roadside Attractions’Southside With You, Seven Clubs’ thrillerBlack Songbird, IFC’s dramatic thrillerComplete Unknown, Independent’s horror filmDaylight’s End, Sony Pictures Classics' comedyThe Hollars, Magnolia’s action-comedyIn Order of Disappearance, FilmBuff’sLevel Upand Five & Two Pictures' dramaRemember the Gold. Be sure to check back on Sunday, for the box office estimates, and again on Tuesday for next week’s predictions. Until then, take a look at our projected top 10 for the weekend of August 19.