Takashi Shimizu‘s The Grudge 2 (Columbia), showing in 3211 situations, will end up in first place Sunday night with roughly $27,261,000. But the big story is Martin Scorsese‘s The Departed (Warner Bros.), which will come in second roughly $19,369,000, dropping only 26%. That’s a very strong hold from last weekend, especially considering that last Sunday’s business was stronger than usual due to the Columbus Day holiday that came the next day (i.e., Monday, 10.9).
Man of the Year will be third with an expected Sunday-night cume of $12,399,000, Open Season will end up with $11,105 (decent hold). Texas Chainsaw Masscare: The Beginning, weakened by The Grudge 2, will have about $8,559,000. The Marine, which opened without critics screenings, will end up with $6,693,000, give or take. The Guardian, $5,738,000. Employee of the Month, $5,248,000. One Night with the King (a religious-right flick with “some sensuality,” starring Tiffany Dupont and costarring Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif with “some sensuality,” about Esther — as iin “the book of…” — winning the heart of the king). Jackass Number Two will end up with $3,122,000 for the weekend.