Can Power Rangers Beat Beauty and the Beast at the Box Office?

Disney’sBeauty and the Beastsomehow managed to exceed the expectations of most box office analysts, with arecord-breaking opening weekendof $174.7 million, beating the Sunday estimates by over $4 million. This long-awaited live-action adaptation brokeBatman v Superman’s record for largest March opening ever, and it also broke records for the largest debut for a PG movie, and had the biggest IMAX debut ever for a PG film as well. While it only opened against one other movie last weekend, the R-rated thrillerThe Belko Experiment, which debuted in roughly 1/4th of the theatersBeauty and the Beastwas in, this live-action fairy tale will have much more competition heading into its second weekend, facing Lionsgate’sPower Rangers, Sony’sLife, Warner Bros.‘CHiPsand River Rain’s sports dramaSlamma Jamma, althoughBeauty and the Beastshould still easily reign supreme.

Box Office Mojoreports thatPower Rangers,Life,CHiPsandSlamma Jammawill all open nationwide, although exact theater counts weren’t given yet. While there aren’t enough reviews on Rotten Tomatoes forCHiPsandSlamma Jamma,Lifeis proving to be an early critical hit with an impressive 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while thePower Rangers remakehas received mixed reviews, with a 50% score on the site, as of now. Those numbers will surely change as more reviews come in between now and the opening weekend, but we’re predicting thatBeauty and the Beastwill have no trouble remaining at the top of the box office heap with a projected $90.3 million, with the rest of the pack unable to even make it a close race.

We’re predicting that, despite the middling critical reception,Power Rangerswill easily take second place with a projected $36.7 million. Directed byDean Israelite, the film starsDacre Montgomery,Naomi Scott,RJ Cyler,Becky GandLudi Linas thePower Rangersand also featuresBill Haderas Alpha 5,Bryan Cranstonas Zordon andElizabeth Banksas Rita Repulsa. The movie follows five ordinary teens who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove, and the world, is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so, they will have to overcome their real-life issues and before it’s too late, and band together as the Power Rangers.

We’re projecting thatLifewill follow close behind in third place with $31.4 million.Lifeis a terrifyingsci-fi thrillerabout a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station whose mission of discovery turns to one of primal fear when they find a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth. The film starsJake Gyllenhaal,Rebecca Ferguson,Ryan Reynolds,Hiroyuki Sanada,Ariyon Bakare, andOlga Dihovichnaya. It is directed byDaniel Espinosa, written byRhett Reese&Paul Wernick, and produced byDavid Ellison,Dana Goldberg,Bonnie CurtisandJulie Lynn. Executive producers areDon GrangerandVicki Dee Rock.

Warner Bros.’ theatrical reboot of the hit TV seriesCHiPswill most likely take fourth place with $24.2 million. Jon Baker and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello have just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles but for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten up pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage back together.Poncherellois a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job-inside the CHP. The inexperienced rookie and hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so kickstarting a partnership is easier said than done. But with Baker’s bike skills combined with Ponch’s street savvy it might just work…if they don’t drive each other crazy along the way.

WhileSlamma Jammais expected to have a “wide release,” it likely won’t be wide enough to put it in the top 10 this weekend. We’re predicting that the top 10 will be rounded out byKong: Skull Island($12.6 million),Logan($9.3 million),Get Out($7.4 million),The Shack($3 million),The LEGO Batman Movie($2.3 million) andThe Belko Experiment($1.7 million). Also opening in limited release this weekend will be Fox Searchlight’sWilson, Submarine Deluxe’s documentaryI Call Him Morgan, Monterey Media Inc’s dramaThe Levelingand FIP’s romantic comedyPhillauri. There isn’t any indication yet if any of these limited release films will be expanding in the weeks and months ahead.

Looking ahead to next weekend, Paramount will bring its live-action adaptation of the beloved manga seriesGhost in the Shellto theaters, which will go up against DreamWorks Animation’sThe Boss Baby. Also opening in limited release will beThe Blackcoat’s Daughter,Carrie Pilby,Here Alone,Despite the Falling Snow,Here Alone,Live CargoandGod Knows Where I Am. Take a look at our box office projections for the weekend of March 24, and check back on Sunday for the weekend estimates.