Will Warcraft Obliterate Ninja Turtles 2 at the Box Office?

Paramount’sTeenage Mutnant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadowshad no trouble topping thebox officelast weekend with $35.2 million, Although, that total was less than half of what 2014’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesopened with in 2014, when it debuted to the tune of $65.5 million.TMNT 2’s reign will most likely end early, going up against three newcomers, Universal’sWarcraft, Lionsgate’sNow You See Me 2and Warner Bros.‘The Conjuring 2. If our projections are correct, thenWarcraftshould have no trouble coming out on top this weekend.

While exact theater counts have not been given yet,Box Office Mojoreports thatWarcraftis expected to debut in an estimated 3,400 theaters, whileThe Conjuring 2is expected to open in approximately 3,100 theaters andNow You See Me 2is set to debut in 3,000 theaters. Of these three new releases, onlyThe Conjuring 2is a hit with the critics, earning a solid 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, whileNow You See Me 2has a middling 46% rating andWarcrafthas a dismal 16% score. Despite thesenegative reviews,Warcraftis still expected to debut atop the box office with a predicted $42.3 million.

Warcraftcomes from Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures, an epic adventure of world-colliding conflict based on Blizzard Entertainment’s global phenomenon. The peaceful realm ofAzerothstands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders:Orc warriorsfleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people and their home. So begins a spectacular saga of power and sacrifice in which war has many faces, and everyone fights for something.

No budget details have been given forWarcraft, but it seems likely that it will have to open much higher than our projection if the movie hopes to be profitable. This video game adaptation features anensemble castthat includesTravis Fimmel,Toby Kebbell,Daniel Wu,Dominic Cooper,Ben Foster,Paula Patton,Andre Tricoteux,Robert Kazinsky,Clancy BrownandDaniel Cudmore.Duncan Jonesdirects from a script he co-wrote withCharles Leavitt, based on the iconic video game series.

The Conjuring 2is expected to take second place with a predicted $19.5 million, which, if rings true, will follow bothTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the ShadowsandX-Men: Apocalypseas sequels that have opened far less than their predecessors.The Conjuringdebuted in the summer of 2013, opening with $41.8 million, en route to a domestic take of $137.4 million and $318 million worldwide, from just a $20 million budget. Even if it does match its predecessor, it still may come up short ofWarcraft, if our predictions pan out.

DirectorJames Wanbrings this supernatural thriller to the screen with another real case from the files of renowned demonologistsEdandLorraine Warren. Reprising their roles, Oscar nomineeVera FarmigaandPatrick Wilsonstar as Lorraine and Ed Warren, who, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits. The supporting cast includesDavis Thewlis,Frances O’Connor,Franka Potente,Maria Doyle Kennedy,Sterling Jerins,Simon McBurneyandJavier Botet.

Rounding out the top 5 will beTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2with $18.7 million,Now You See Me 2with $15.2 million andX-Men: Apocalypsewith $13.4 million.Now You See Me 2is set one year after the Four Horsemen outwitted the FBI and won the public’s adulation with their mind-bending spectacles. The gang resurfaces only to find themselves face to face with a new enemy who enlists them to pull off their most dangerous heist yet.Lizzy CaplanreplacesIsla Fisheras one of the Four Horsemen, withDaniel Radcliffejoining the cast alongside returning starsJesse Eisenberg,Woody Harrelson,Dave Franco,Mark Ruffalo,Morgan FreemanandMichael Caine. It’s worth noting that the originalNow You See Meopened with $29.3 million in 2013, en route to $117 million domestic and $351 million worldwide, from a $75 million budget.

The top 10 will be rounded out byMe Before You($8.9 million),Alice Through the Looking Glass($6.2 million),The Angry Birds Movie($5.8 million),Captain America: Civil War($4.1 million) andNeighbors 2: Sorority Rising($1.9 million). Also opening in limited release this weekend is Electric Entertainment’s thrillerBlackway, Starz Media’s thrillerCareful What You Wish For, A24’s documentaryDe Palma, Cohen Media Group’s dramaDiary of a Chambermaid, Roadside Attractions’ dramaGenius, Music Box Films' horror-comedyTherapy for a Vampire, Focus World’s comedyPuerto Ricans in Parisand Reliance Films' crime thrillerTe3n. We don’t know if any of these films plan to expand in wide release throughout the coming weeks.

Looking ahead to next weekend, two new movies hit theaters in wide release. Disney Pixar’s long-awaited sequelFinding Dorywill go up against Warner Bros.' action comedyCentral Intelligence, starringDwayne JohnsonandKevin Hart. Also opening in limited release is The Weinstein Company’s horror-thrillerClown, Magnolia’s action-adventureThe Last King, Film Movement’s documentaryMy Love, Don’t Cross That River, First Run’s documentaryArgentina, Hannover House’s romantic comedyA Remarkable Lifeand Magnolia’s documentaryTickled. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, and again next Tuesday for the new round of predictions. Until then, take a look at our projected top 10 for the weekend of June 10.