Cruise and Sandler are DOA this weekend:
Cruise, Sandler can't tame 'Madagascar'
3D toon on track for $36 million-plus at Father's Day B.O.
It's Déjà vu all over again at the Father's Day box office, as "Madagascar 3" and "Prometheus" should retain the No. 1 and No. 2 spots domestically, but for stars Tom Cruise and Adam Sandler -- typically big B.O. draws -- the numbers are anything but familiar.
According to early Friday estimates, Warner Bros.' "Rock of Ages" is tracking in the high-teens to low-twenties for the weekend while Sandler's R-rated "That's My Boy" is in fourth place with $13 million-$16 million domestically.
The last Adam Sandler film to open under $20 million domestically was Sony's "Reign Over Me" (2007), another R-rated pic.
Co-starring Andy Samberg and made for roughly $65 million, Sony's "That's My Boy" could see better luck in the wrong run, as Sandler pics typically generate solid multiples.
Cruise, who last appeared in Paramount's B.O. titan "Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol," is getting critical raves for his perf in Adam Shankman's adaptation of the "Rock of Ages" musical, but guys aren't buying it.
"It's a tough sell," one analyst says of "Rock of Ages." "I think the lack of humor in the trailers turned off a lot of men."
Meanwhile, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" continues to reign in the U.S. with Paramount and DreamWorks Animation's 3D toon suiting up for a $10 million Friday and $36 million-plus for the weekend.
Featuring the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer, "Madagascar" has already cumed over $200 million worldwide. The family friendly pic should see healthy competition next weekend from Pixar's "Brave."
Fox's "Prometheus" is off 50-55% in its sophomore frame, with Ridley Scott's 3D sci-fier at an estimated $20 million-$25 million through Sunday.
