Box Office: ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ Aims for $40 Million Domestic Debut

variety.com:

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterAn pack of intrepid wizards will duel against a tiny blue speed demon to lead domestic box office charts.The odds-on favorite “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” the third entry in the “Harry Potter” spinoff series, is expected to debut to at least $40 million from 4,200 North American theaters.

Those ticket sales should be enough to surpass the competition — unless last weekend’s champion “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” powers to another strong turnout at the movies.

Paramount’s kid friendly sequel opened last weekend to huge $72 million and could add $30 million to $40 million in its second outing.Elsewhere, Sony Pictures is getting an early start by bringing “Father Stu,” an R-rated faith based drama starring Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson, to theaters on Wednesday.

The movie is projected to earn $7 million from 2,705 cinemas in its first five days of release. “Harry Potter” veteran David Yates directed “The Secrets of Dumbledore,” a fantastical adventure that puts a bigger spotlight on beloved Hogwarts professor Albus Dumbledore (portrayed by Jude Law).