'Contagion' could infect grown ups at B.O.

Steven Soderberghs thriller Contagion is riding a Venice fest berth and reviews that are positive because it opens Friday. Adult-skewing fare should still reign n the domestic B.O.'s first fall frame: Having a forecasted launch north of $20 million, Warner Bros. ensembler "Contagion" looks set to wage germ warfare on three-week B.O. champion "The Assistance.Inch "Contagion," from Participant Media and Imagenation Abu Dhabi, bows alongside a set of photos specific at individuals under 25: "Warrior" and "Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star." Late August and publish-Labor Day box office is usually driven by adult fodder (e.g., 2010's "Red-colored" and "The CityInch) as well as an increase of niche game titles. A few days ago, indies bowing include Anchor Bay's Rooney Mara starrer "Tanner Hall" and IFC's Brit period laffer "Burke and Hare." Monster movie "Creature," self-written by Sid and Jon Sheinberg's Bubble Delivering, also opens wide at 1,507 locations.Overseas, Sony's "The Smurfs" could win again (cume is approaching $300 million), though game titles including "Rise from the Planet from the Apes" ($189 million) and "Final Destination 5" ($61 million) keep headway worldwide. "Contagion" bows day-and-date in Italia and more compact Asian marketplaces. It isn't surprising to determine high-profile photos like "Contagion" bow after Labor Day weekend -- in the past among the slowest weekends in the box office. Due to that stigma, some distribs steer clear of the Labor Day frame so they won't discourage filmmakers or studio executives. However the first weekend following Labor Day typically is not that busy, either. The upside is the fact that while children are busy settling into school, over-25 moviegoers tend to be more active at multiplexes and hungry for mature fare following a box office's blockbuster season. Think about "The Assistance,Inch that has made $127 million locally. "Contagion," helmed by Steven Soderbergh, sports a topnotch cast including Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Marion Cotillard. The thriller opened in the Venice Film Festival and it has tallied up largely reviews that are positive. Lionsgate stated it hopes "Warrior," starring Tom Sturdy and Joel Edgerton, will broaden to adult auds, according to positive person to person. Pic, which opens at 1,869 engagements, should play best (in the beginning) to core more youthful males, driving a forecasted opening of $six million-$8 million. The prosperity of "Warrior," allocated in a reported mid-$20 millions, will hinge about the extent from the recognition of mma. Lionsgate made the decision to sneak the pic last weekend, with a lot more advance person to person tests to segments including belief-based auds. Meanwhile, Sony's "Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star" should figure lower in overall weekend standing, by having an believed launch around $4 million. Fortunately for The new sony, the Nick Swardson laffer, in regards to a Midwesterner who moves to Hollywood to become porn star, cost under $ten million to create. The new sony mainstay Adam Sandler co-authored the script with Swardson and Allen Covert. Sandler created through his Happy Madison banner. A set of foreign niche photos also bow a few days ago within the U.S.: Bollywood film "My Brother's Bride," being distribbed by Yah Raj Films, opens at 75 engagements, while China Lion's "Love in Space," which Fox Intl. bows today in China, launches at 15 Stateside engagements. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com