Can Suicide Squad Win Its 4th Box Office Weekend in a Row?

Last weekend was supposed to knockSuicide Squadfrom atop the box office, with three new releases hitting theaters after thissuperhero blockbustersuffered a massive 67.4% drop during its second week of release. Thanks to all three of those new releases (Ben-Hur,War DogsandKubo & the Two Strings) underperforming,Suicide Squadthree-peated to become the #1 movie yet again. Now it looks to close out the month of August with a clean sweep. Standing in its way are three newcomers, Sony’s horror-thrillerDon’t Breathe, The Weinstein Company’s boxing biopicHands of Stoneand Lionsgate’s action sequelMechanic: Resurrection. If our predictions ring true though, we believeDon’t Breathedoes have a chance to win the last weekend of the summer.

It has certainly been an unusualsummer box office, which closes out on a rather weird note. All three of these new releases are rated R. R-rated movies are certainly back en vogue after the success ofDeadpool, but none of these movies will likely put up huge numbers. The last weekend in August and the following Labor Day holiday are traditionally two of the lowest-grossing weekends of the entire year. In this same slot last year,Straight Outta Compton, in its third week in release, remained atop the box office with just $13.1 million. We’re predicting thatDon’t Breathewill come out on top come Monday, with $15.6 million, followed byMechanic: Resurrectionin second place with $12.1 million,Suicide Squadin third with $10.2 million,Hands of Stonein fourth with $9.4 million andSausage Partyrounding out the top 5 with $8.2 million.

Box Office Mojoreports thatDon’t Breathe, theterrifying thrillerfromEvil Deadremake directorFede Alvarez, will be released in approximately 2,900 theaters, whileMechanic: Resurrectionwill debut in roughly 2,200 theaters andHands of Stonewill arrive in roughly 2,000 theaters. Aside from this large theater count advantage,Don’t Breatheis also a hit with the critics, with an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. There is no score forMechanic: Resurrectionquite yet, but critics are split down the middle onHands Of Stone, which has a 50% rating on RT.

Don’t Breathefollows a trio of friends who break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong. The film starsStephen Lang(Avatar),Jane Levy(Suburgatory),Dylan Minnette(Goosebumps) andDaniel Zovatto(It Follows).Don’t Breatheis directed byFede Alvarez(Evil Dead) from a screenplay byAlvarezandRodo Sayagues, withSam Raimi,Rob TapertandFede Alvarezproducing.

Mechanic: Resurrectionbrings backJason Stathamas Arthur Bishop from 2011’sThe Mechanic. When the deceitful actions of a cunning but beautiful womanJessica Albaforce him to return to the life he left behind, Bishop’s life is once again in danger as he has to complete an impossible list of assassinations of the most dangerous men in the world. The supporting cast includesTommy Lee Jones,Michelle Yeoh,Sam Hazeldine,Geoffrey Guiliano,Bonnie Z. Hutchinson,Sam Thomas StevensandDylan Farrell.

Hands of Stonefollows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year-old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more).Robert De Niroalso stars as Duran’s trainer, Ray Arcel, with a supporting cast that includesJurnee Smollett-Bell,Ellen Barkin,John Turturro,Reg. E. Cathey,Oscar JaenadaandAna de Armas.

The top 10 will be rounded out byWar Dogs($7 million),Kubo and the Two Strings($6.4 million),Ben-Hur($5.6 million),Pete’s Dragon$5.1 million) andBad Moms$4.2 million. Also opening in limited release is Roadside Attractions’Southside With You, Seven Clubs' thrillerBlack Songbird, IFC’s dramatic thrillerComplete Unknown, Independent’s horror filmDaylight’s End, Sony Pictures Classics' comedyThe Hollars, Magnolia’s action-comedyIn Order of Disappearance, FilmBuff’sLevel Upand Five & Two Pictures' dramaRemember the Gold. We’re not sure if any of these limited-release movies will expand in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned.

Looking ahead to next weekend, two more movies will open over the Labor Day holiday weekend, Disney’s dramaThe Light Between the Oceans, starringMichael FassbenderandAlicia Vikander, and 20th Century Fox’sMorganstarringKate Mara,Rose LeslieandPaul Giamatti. Also opening in limited release is Invincible Pictures’Yoga Hosers, Paladin’sMax Rose, FilmRise’sWhite Girland Lionsgate’sNo Manches Frida. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates and again on Tuesday for the next wave of predictions. Until then, check out our box office predictions for the weekend of August 26.