It's safe to assume we all imagined Fury would probably be better than it is. Brad Pitt - playing a sort of version of his Inglorious Basterds character - teaming up with David Ayer, one of the world's most exciting directors, for a World War II epic. What's not to like? Well, it appears Ayer, who also penned the script, left too many clichés in there and not nearly enough drama. 

FuryBrad Pitt heads a stellar cast in David Ayer's World War II epic 'Fury'

This isn't a bad movie by any stretch - in fact, it's a pretty good war movie. It just won't trouble the Oscars voters. Fury cost around $68 million to produce and should take around $25 million from 3,155 locations this weekend. 

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"I don't think there's any stopping 'Fury,'" said Jeff Bock, an analyst with Exhibitor Relations. "Brad Pitt is one of the last remaining stars who can carry a picture."

Fury should eclipse David Fincher's Gone Girl, though the mystery-drama will take a considerable slice of the war epic's potential takings and should pull in $17 million for second or third place. Animated Day of the Dead adventure The Book of Life won't be too far behind and should do $16-18 million to start the ball rolling on recouping its $50 million budget. 

The Book of LifeThe Book of Life is another of the big-budget releases this weekend

After the top three, Dracula Untold and newcomer The Best of Me will likely battle for fourth place, while the bottom of the barrel - namely Alexander and the Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day and The Judge - will fight to the death for fifth.

More: Is 'The Book of Life' the next big animated movie?

Still, the best movie out this weekend is Birdman - which gets a limited release to enable art-house movie buffs their first look at one of the frontrunners for best picture at the Oscars.

Watch the Fury trailer: