\n\tWill a franchise in its fifth decade be able to activate the box office?<\/p>\n
\n\tThat\u2019s the mission for Disney\u2019s sci-fi sequel \u201cTron: Ares<\/a>,\u201d which is tracking a debut of $45 million to $50 million from 4,000 North American theaters over the weekend. That\u2019s about even with 2010\u2019s \u201cTron: Legacy,\u201d which opened to $44 million (not adjusted for inflation) and, of course, way above the original 1982 \u201cTron,\u201d which launched with $4.7 million on its way to cult status. Internationally, \u201cTron: Ares\u201d is aiming for $40 million to $45 million, which could put the global number between $85 million and $95 million by Sunday.<\/p>\n \n\tThough hailed for groundbreaking visuals (the initial entry was one of the first movies to extensively use CGI), \u201cTron\u201d has never been a hugely commercial film franchise; the first movie ended up grossing $50 million worldwide against a $17 million budget, while the second installment earned $400 million globally against a $170 million budget. The third installment is the most expensive yet with a price tag of $180 million.<\/p>\n \n\tDirected by \u201cPirates of the Caribbean\u201d alum Joachim R\u00f8nning, \u201cTron: Ares\u201d follows humanity\u2019s first contact with artificial intelligence as an advanced program is sent from the digital realm into the physical world. Jeff Bridges is reprising his role as Kevin Flynn from the previous films while Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Evan Peters have joined the cast. Variety\u2019s chief film critic Peter Debruge<\/a> praised the visual flair of \u201cAres,\u201d adding that it otherwise \u201creads mostly as an exercise in nostalgia.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThis weekend\u2019s other newcomers won\u2019t come close to \u201cTron: Ares\u201d on box office charts. Paramount\u2019s R-rated dramedy \u201cRoofman<\/a>,\u201d starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, is aiming for $8 million to $12 million from 3,340 locations in its opening weekend. And Jennifer Lopez\u2019s musical \u201cKiss of the Spider Woman\u201d is targeting $1.5 million to $3 million from 1,300 screens, a disastrous kickoff for the film.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cRoofman,\u201d directed by \u201cBlue Valentine\u201d filmmaker Derek Cianfrance, tells the true story of a former soldier and professional thief who escapes from prison and finds a hideout in a Toys \u201cR\u201d Us. Developed, financed and produced by Miramax, \u201cRoofman\u201d carries a modest $17 million budget. The film has been well reviewed (an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes), which the studio hopes will help in terms of positive word-of-mouth. In Variety\u2019s review, Debruge singled out the performances of Tatum and Dunst<\/a>, writing that the \u201cthrough-the-roof chemistry between the two leads that makes the film worthy of repeat viewing.\u201d<\/p>\n